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LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS, 


BY  WILLIAM  SWAN, 


MISSIONARY    IN    SIBERIA. 


WITH    AN 

INTRODUCTORY  PREFACE, 

BY  THE  LATE  WILLIAM  ORME, 

FOREIGN   SECRETARY   TO   THE   LONDON   MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 


BOSTON 


PUBLISHED  BY  PERKINS  AND  MARVIN. 
NEW  YORK  :  J.  LEAVITT. 

1831. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 
Preface  to  the  American  Edition,  »  .  .  .  v 
Introductory  Preface,    9 

LETTER  I. 
On  the  Choice  of  a  Missionary  Life, 61 

LETTER  II. 
The  same  subject  continued, 71 

LETTER  III. 
On  Missionary  Qualifications, 80 

LETTER  IV. 
Tfae  same  subject  continued, 89 

LETTER  V. 
Difficulties  arising   from    Diversity  of  Temper  among  Mis- 
sionaries,       104 

LETTER  VI. 

The  office  of  the  Missionary  compared  with  the  Ministry  at 

Home 113 

LETTER  VII. 
On  Low  Views  of  the  Missionary  Office, 125 

LETTER  VIII. 
On  the  Quantity  of  Means  to  be  Employed,         ....     134 

LETTER  IX. 
On  Different  Modes  of  Missionary  Operation,      ....    139 


IV  CONTENTS. 

LETTER  X. 
On  the  Preference  due  to  the  Missionary  Service,        ;       .        .    148 

LETTER  XL 
On    Ministerial   Faithfulness    to  Candidates    for    Missionary 

Service,         .        .   "»  * 158 

LETTER  XII. 
On  Apathy  to  the  Extent  of  the  Claims  of  the  Heathen  World,     163 

LETTER  XIII. 
On  the  Best  Means  of  Convincing  the  Heathen  of  the  Truth 

of  Christianity, 177 

LETTER  XIV. 

On  the  Reasons  which  may  justify   Qualified  Individuals  in 

declining  the  Missionary  Service, 191 

LETTER  XV. 

On  the  Influence  of  Success  on  Missionary  Operations,       .        .    211 

LETTER  XVI. 
Defects  in  the  Mode  of  Advocating  the  Cause  of  Missions,  .    222 

LETTER  XVII. 
Objections  to  Engaging  in  Missionary  Service,    ....    233 

LETTER  XVIII. 
Remarks  on  a  Sentiment  of  Dr.  Buchanan, 242 

LETTER  XIX. 
On  the  Means  to  be  used  in  raising  up  Missionaries,  .        .        i    253 

LETTER  XX. 
On  the  Spirit  of  the  Missionary  Enterprizc,  ....    260 

LETTER  XXI. 
Some  of  the  Causes  of  Indifference  to  Missionary  Exertions,      .    268 


s '  ) 

\n  vHSGLQGIO&L  # 

PREFACE 
TO  THE  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


The  intelligent  writer  of  the  Letters  on 
Missions,  which  compose  the  principal  part  of 
this  volume,  is  under  the  direction  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  and  is  already  known  to  the 
American  reader  as  the  author  of  an  interesting 
work,  entitled,  '  Memoir  of  the  late  Mrs.  Pater- 
son,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Paterson,  of  St. 
Petersburg,' — from  the  press  of  the  publishers 
of  this  volume.  He  spent  a  part  of  the  years 
1818  and  1819,  in  the  family  of  Dr.  Paterson, 
at  St.  Petersburg,  acquiring  the  Russ  language. 
He  then  proceeded  with  his  associate,  Mr. 
Yuille,  to  the  field  of  their  missionary  labors  in 
Siberia.  The  Russian  government,  with  a 
liberal  policy,  granted   a  full  sanction  of  their 


VI  PREFACE. 

object,  with  an  assurance  of  its  special  protec- 
tion, and  with  commendatory  letters  to  the  local 
authorities,  and  a  free  passport  for  horses  and 
postillions  through  the  whole  of  their  long 
journey.  They  were  more  than  two  months  on 
the  road.  Making  the  seat  of  their  mission  at 
Selenginsk,  among  the  worshippers  of  the  Grand 
Lama,  they  immediately  began  to  translate  the 
Scriptures  into  the  Buriat-Mongolian  tongue, 
which  they  completed  in  the  year  1828,  with 
the  help  of  Mr.  Stallybrass,  who  had  joined  them 
some  time  before. 

The  three  brethren  then  resolved,  with  com- 
mendable disinterestedness,  to  occupy  each  a 
separate  post,  in  order  more  effectually  to  pro- 
mote the  object  of  their  mission.  Mr.  Yuille 
remained  at  Selenginsk ;  Mr.  Stallybrass  re- 
moved to  a  place  called  Khodon,  in  the  territory 
inhabited  by  the  Chorin-Buriats  ;  and  Mr.  Swan, 
the  author  of  these  letters,  commenced  a  resi- 
dence on  the  river  Ona,  where  he  is  supposed 
still  to  remain.  The  letters,  however,  must 
have  been  written  before  his  removal  from 
Selenginsk. 

The  Directors  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society  thus  speak  of   Mr.    Swan's  letters,  in 


PREFACE.  Vll 

their  Report  for  the  year  ending  May,  18*29  : — 
"  Mr.  Swan  sent  to  England  for  publication, 
some  time  ago,  a  small  volume  of  Letters  on 
Missions,  which  has  been  carried  through  the 
press  by  the  Secretary,  and  which,  on  account 
of  its  tendency  to  promote  the  cause  of  missions, 
the  Directors  beg  most  cordially  to  recommend 
to  the  attention  of  the  Society,  and  of  all  the 
friends  of  missions." 

Mr.  Swan's  style  is  simple,  perspicuous,  and 
earnest ;  and  he  has  performed  a  work  which 
was  greatly  needed,  in  a  very  satisfactory  man- 
ner. Native  good  sense,  enlightened  by  expe- 
rience, reflection,  and  piety,  is  seen  in  every 
one  of  his  pages,  and  his  work  is  commended 
to  the  serious  perusal  of  students  in  theology,  of 
preachers  of  the  Gospel,  and  indeed  of  all  the 
professed  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ.  If  read 
with  a  proper  spirit,  it  will  not  fail  to  throw  new 
light  on  the  path  of  their  duty  ;  and  it  is  one  of 
the  few  books,  concerning  which  we  may  ven- 
ture to  say,  that  aspirants  for  the  sacred  ministry 
ought  by  all  means  to  read  it,  before  they  deter- 
mine to  spend  their  lives  among  the  churches, 
or  even  the  waste-places,  of  their  own  country. 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

As  the  "  New  Model  for  Christian  Missions'' 
has  been  republished  in  the  United  States,  Mr. 
Orme's  Introduction  has  a  greater  importance, 
than  would  otherwise  be  attached  to  it.  Yet 
it  will  be  found  interesting  and  instructive,  and 
well  deserving  of  an  attentive  perusal,  even  by 
those  who  have  not  read  the  Essay,  which  it  is 
chiefly  designed  to  controvert.  The  mind  of 
Mr.  Orme  was  vigorous  and  well  regulated ;  and 
though  the  church  of  Christ  has  been  called  to 
lament  his  decease  since  the  publication  of  this 
volume,  he  will  long  continue  to  speak,  in  Eng- 
land and  America,  by  means  of  his  "  Life  and 
Times  of  Richard  Baxter." 

Boston,  Mass.,  March  4,  1831. 


vir::o;:,cc: 

INTRODUCTORY  PREFACE. 


Missions  for  the  Propagation  of  Christianity 
among  the  Heathen  can  no  longer  be  regarded 
as  doubtful  experiments.  The  grounds  of  at- 
tack and  defence,  therefore,  have  undergone  an 
entire  change.  Thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  such 
undertakings  were  represented  by  those  who 
opposed  them,  as  fanatical  and  Utopian  ;  as  be- 
gun under  the  influence  of  a  misguided  zeal, 
and  never  likely  to  answer  the  purpose,  or  re- 
ward the  benevolent  exertions  and  sacrifices  of 
their  projectors. 

The  friends  who  espoused  the  cause,  knew 
too  well  the  nature  of  the  work  in  which  they 
had  embarked,  to  be  put  down  or  discouraged 
by  this  mode  of  assailing  them.  Their  enter- 
prize  was  founded  on  a  correct  knowledge  of 
the  nature  of  Christianity,  as  a  message  from 
God  to  man,  and  as  adapted  to  all  the  diversified 
evils  which  belong  to  his  fallen  nature.  They 
were  fully  persuaded  that  it  was  the  will  of  God 
the  gospel  should  be  preached  to  every  creature  ; 
and  that,  though  they  might  err  in  the  selection 
1 


10 

of  instruments,  or  in  the  choice  of  spheres  of  ac- 
tion, God  would  regard  with  approbation  the 
effort  to  promote  his  glory,  and  sooner  or  later 
smile  upon  it  with  success.  Success,  come 
when  it  might,  however,  they  never  alleged  as 
the  proper  ground  of  their  engaging  in  the  work. 
They  knew  that  it  was  the  prerogative  of  God 
alone  to  give  it  in  answer  to  prayer,  and  in  con- 
nection with  effort,  while  it  was  their  duty  in 
faith  and  patience  to  wait  for  it. 

I  grant  that  if  success  in  such  a  cause  were 
indefinitely  delayed,  it  would  lead  to  some  im- 
portant considerations.  It  would  induce  sus- 
picions as  to  the  nature  of  the  work  attempted  ; 
as  to  the  construction  put  upon  the  revelation  of 
the  will  of  God  ;  and,  finally,  as  to  the  divine 
origin  and  design  of  Christianity  itself.  For  if 
any  part  of  the  communication  from  heaven  be 
clearer  than  another,  it  is  the  intimation,  that 
the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  as  they  are  adapted 
to  all,  so  they  are  destined  by  God  to  be  enjoyed 
by  all,  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Jf  therefore  all 
attempts  to  propagate  the  gospel  should  fail,  it 
would  follow  either  that  we  are  incapable  of  un- 
derstanding its  revelation,  or  that  some'hing  of 
a  very  mysterious  nature  belongs  to  the  designs 
of  God  respecting  it. 

So  far  from  being  under  the  necessity  of  look- 
ing at  the  subject  in  this  light,  we  have  been 
furnished  with  evidence  of  the  most  satisfactory 
kind,  that  the  experiment  has  succeeded  to  the 
full  extent,  if  not  of  the  wishes,  at  least  of  the 


11 

expectations  of  those  who  have  tried  it ;  that  in 
every  instance  where  the  attempt  has  been  judi- 
ciously made  by  proper  instruments,  and  suffi- 
ciently persevered  in,  success  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  has  taken  place  ;  and  that  on  the  whole, 
the  results  have  been  so  satisfactory,  as  to  pre- 
sent a  complete  answer  to  every  objection,  and 
the  fullest  encouragement  to  proceed. 

I  am  aware  that  the  opinion  now  expressed 
is  not  in  entire  accordance  with  the  views  of  all 
who  think  and  write  on  missionary  subjects.  I 
have  just  cast  my  eye  on  the  following  para- 
graph :— 

"  It  cannot  but  be  a  question  to  every  mind — why  is  it 
that  with  such  large  and  varied  means  our  success  is  so 
trifling?  Why  is  it  that  while  so  many  societies  are  at 
work,  and  so  much  money  expended,  the  results  bear  no 
adequate  proportion  to  the  cost  and  labor  ?  The  fact  is 
notorious,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  We  labor  in  vain, 
and  spend  our  strength  almost  for  nought ;  at  least,  all  are 
ready  to  acknowledge  that  our  success  is  not  commensu- 
rate to  our  means,  and  that  a  vast  machinery  is  employed 
to  produce  an  insignificant  result.  It  would  be  wrong  to 
be  satisfied  with  such  a  state  of  things.  The  error  doubt- 
less attaches  to  us.  We  are  not  straitened  in  God  but  in 
ourselves.  In  such  circumstances,  we  are  bound  to  sus- 
pect our  motives  and  principles.  Were  we  co-workers 
with  God — were  we  laboring  in  the  spirit  of  our  Master, 
it  would  be  a  mockery  to  suppose  our  present  success  the 
adequate  result  of  our  labors."* 

I  entirely  dissent  from  the  writer  of  this  para- 
graph, in  the  view  which  he  takes  of  the  result 
of  missionary   labors.     The    statement,   I  con- 

*  New  Baptist  Miscellany  [Eng.]  for  October,  1829;  p.  422. 


12 

ceive,  to  be  unfounded  in  fact,  to  arise  from  an 
inadequate  view  of  the  operations  which  are  at 
present  going  on,  and  to  be  as  injurious  and  dis- 
couraging in  its  tendency,  as  it  is  incorrect  in 
its  assumption.  I  am  unconscious  of  having 
any  disposition  to  exaggerate  the  success  which 
has  attended  the  labors  of  Christian  missionaries, 
or  to  form  an  extravagant  idea  of  that  success; 
but  when  it  is  spoken  of  as  nothing,  and  as  bear- 
ing no  proportion  to  the  cost  and  labor  bestowed  ; 
and  is  maintained  that  all  this  is  notorious,  both 
at  home  and  abroad  ; — it  is  proper  to  refuse  as- 
sent to  such  sweeping  assertions. 

There  is  such  a  thing  as  being  impatient  of 
labor,  or  of  waiting  for  its  results  ;  of  entertain- 
ing too  magnificent  ideas  of  the  amount  of  our 
own  doings;  and  of  assuming  the  attitude  of 
menace  and  reproach,  because  every  thing  is 
not  according  to  our  mind.  It  is  possible  too  to 
forget,  that  when  a  gigantic  superstructure  is  to 
be  raised,  a  platform  or  foundation  of  proportion- 
ate extent  must  be  laid.  It  seems  to  be  expected 
by  many,  that  the  cupola  should  be  rising  into 
view,  before  there  has  been  time  to  accomplish 
the  work  underground.  It  is  overlooked,  that  a 
very  large  portion  of  the  work  which  has  been 
done  by  missionary  societies  and  missionaries, 
during  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  has  been 
chiefly  preparatory  in  its  nature.  Much  labor 
has  been  employed  to  overcome  difficulties  an  1 
obstacles  which  stood  in  the  way  of  the  work  at 
home,  or  of  its  introduction  into  various  coun- 


13 

tries  abroad.  The  efforts  required  to  subdue 
positive  hostility  to  missionary  undertakings  have 
been  great,  and  required  much  wisdom  and  per- 
severance. To  have  succeeded  thus  far  in  com- 
manding public  confidence  and  approbation,  is 
alone  of  vast  moment  to  the  future  interests  of 
the  work.  It  is  but  within  a  few  years  that  the 
cause  has  acquired  the  appearance  of  magnitude, 
or  that  the  operations  have  been  conducted  on 
a  scale  at  all  worthy  of  it,  or  of  the  persons  who 
espouse  it.  Yet  we  are  already  told  that  our 
success  is  nothing,  compared  with  our  means. 

Many  of  our  most  valuable  and  efficient  mis- 
sionaries have  been  employed  rather  as  pioneers, 
than  as  regular  soldiers  ;  their  time  and  talents 
have  been  chiefly  devoted  to  the  compilation  of 
grammars  and  dictionaries  of  new  and  difficult 
languages  ;  to  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  of  other  valuable  works,  into  those  lan- 
guages ;  to  the  forming  of  systems,  and  conduct- 
ing seminaries  and  schools  for  education;  in 
short,  to  the  construction  of  a  vast  apparatus  of 
means  for  attack  and  defence,  which  may  be 
more  extensively  and  effectually  employed  by 
others  than  by  themselves.  What  has  absorbed 
the  chief  part  of  the  time,  strength,  and  talents 
of  the  Baptist  missionaries  at  Serampore  1 — 
translations,  dictionaries,  schools,  and  school 
books.  The  same  remark  will  apply  to  many 
of  the  missionaries  belonging  to  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  in  India,  China,  and  the 
Chinese  Archipelago,  In  Madagascar,  in  the 
1* 


14 

Mediterranean,  and  in  Siberia,  a  great  part  of 
their  employment  has  been  of  this  description. 
The  same  observation  will  apply  to  the  mission- 
aries of  other  societies.  If  I  am  asked  what  has 
the  Siberian  mission  accomplished,  to  which  the 
writer  of  the  following  Letters  is  attached,  1  am 
not  at  liberty  to  say  all  in  answer  to  this  question 
that  1  could  say  ;  but  I  can  confidently  answer, 
that  the  missionaries  have  been  busily  and  suc- 
cessfully employed  ;  their  translation  of  the  en- 
tire Scriptures  into  the  Mongolian,  beside  other 
works,  will,  I  doubt  not,  cause  the  generations 
to  come  to  bless  their  name. 

To  have  overcome  the  difficulties  which  were 
in  the  way  of  these  preliminary  objects,  ought 
not  to  be  regarded  as  a  small  matter.  I  am 
aware  I  shall  be  told  that  these  are,  after  all, 
but  means,  however  important  they  may  be  in 
themselves.  I  answer  they  are  ends  as  well  as 
means.  They  are  legitimate  objects  of  Chris- 
tian labor ;  many  of  them  will  not  require  to  be 
done  again  ;  and  the  man  who  has  accomplished 
them  ought  not  to  be  considered  by  his  brethren 
as  having  lived  in  vain. 

Is  it  nothing,  considering  the  vast  fabric  of 
superstition,  idolatry,  and  oppression,  which  we 
have  begun  to  assail,  that  a  slight  vibration  only 
begins  to  be  perceptible  ?  Our  success  ought 
not  to  be  estimated  merely  by  the  cost  and  labor 
employed,  but  in  connection  with  the  opposition 
which  we  have  to  encounter.  In  this  point  of 
view  our  means  are  really  insignificant.     With 


15 

our  feeble  energies  directed  against  hundreds 
of  millions,  is  it  nothing  that  a  few  outposts 
have  been  carried  ?  that  some  alarm  has  been 
created  ?  that  the  sound  of  war  has  penetrated 
the  lines,  and  been  heard  even  in  the  centre  of 
the  camp  1  All  this  it  seems  is  nothing,  because 
we  have  not  carried  the  main  fortress  ;  or  at 
least  overcome  a  large  portion  of  the  enemy. 

It  is  not  correct,  that  there  has  been  little 
success  even  in  the  work  of  conversion,  where 
the  proper  means  have  been  employed.  Are 
the  conversions  of  the  South  Sea  islanders  already 
forgotten  ?  Both  in  regard  to  numbers,  and  to 
the  effects  of  the  gospel  on  the  individuals,  these 
conversions  have  no  parallel,  except  in  those  of 
apostolic  times.  But  not  to  look  exclusively  at 
the  work  in  this  quarter,  I  am  not  afraid  to  as- 
sert, that,  with  few  exceptions,  wherever  fit  men 
have  been  employed  in  directly  addressing  the 
heathen  on  the  subject  of  Christianity,  they  have 
not  labored  in  vain  ;  and  that  the  success  which 
has  followed  laborious  and  persevering  exertion 
will  bear  a  fair  comparison,  all  things  consid- 
ered, with  what  takes  place  among  ourselves.  I 
challenge  inquiry  on  this  subject;  and  refer  for 
the  truth  and  accuracy  of  my  statement  to  many 
parts  of  India,  and  Africa ;  and  to  the  West 
Indian  Missions,  belonging  to  the  Moravians, 
the  Wesleyan  Methodists,  and  the  Baptists. 

Instead  therefore  of  pouring  forth  complaint 
and  discouragement,  it  becomes  us  to  adopt  the 
language  of  thanksgiving,  and  to  humble  our- 


16 

selves  before  God  for  our  own  unbelief  and 
unprofitableness.  The  failure  has  been  on  our 
part,  not  on  God's  ;  and  when  we  are  prepared 
"  to  consecrate  ourselves  to  the  Lord,  and  our 
gain  to  the  God  of  the  whole  earth,"  we  shall 
be  strengthened  by  him  "  to  beat  in  pieces 
many  people,  and  gather  them  as  sheaves  into 
the  floor."* 

Before  the  writer  of  this  Introduction  had 
any  idea  of  ocupying  the  important  office  which 
he  now  fills  in  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
he  wrote  the  following  remarks  : 

"  Considering  the  period  during  which  exertion  has 
been  made  to  propagate  Christianity  among  the  heathen, 
and  the  number  of  persons  who  are  employed  in  the 
work,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  it  is  surprising  that  some 
work  on  what  might  be  called  the  philosophy  of  missions, 
has  not  yet  appeared.  The  only  things  approaching  to 
this  character  are,  the  '  Hints  on  Missions,'  by  Mr.  Doug- 
las, of  Cavers  ;  and  the  work  on  '  The  Advancement  of 
Society,'  by  the  same  highly  gifted  individual.  But  the 
former  of  these  productions  too  accurately  corresponds 
with  its  title  to  answer  the  purpose  to  which  I  refer  ;  and 
in  the  other,  the  subject  is  only  noticed  as  one  among 
many.  From  these  works,  however,  the  germ  of  a  highly 
valuable  essay  on  the  subject  of  Christian  missions  to  the 
heathen  might  be  obtained. 

"  What  we  want  is,  not  an  increase  of  reports  of  yearly 
proceedings,  and  of  arguments  derived  from  the  Scriptures, 
to  persuade  us  that  it  is  our  duty  to  engage  in  this  good 
work;  but  a  condensed  view  of  the  knowledge  and  ex- 
perience which  have  been  acquired  during  the  last  thirty 
or  forty  years.  What  appear  to  be  the  best  fields  of 
labor? — what  the  most  successful   mode   of  cultivating 

*  Micah  iv.  12,  13. 


17 

them  ? — what  the  kind  of  agency  which  has  been  most 
efficient  and  least  productive  of  disappointment? — what 
the  best  method  of  training  at  home,  for  the  labors  and 
self-denial  to  be  encountered  abroad  ? — whether  are  de- 
tached and  separate  missions,  or  groups  of  missions  and 
depots  of  missionaries,  the  more  desirable  ?  These  and 
many  other  questions,  require  a  mature  and  deliberate 
answer.  The  materials  for  such  an  answer  exist.  And 
can  none  of  the  officers  whose  time  is  wholly  devoted  to 
the  management  of  our  missionary  societies,  furnish  such 
a  digest?  Are  they  so  entirely  occupied  with  the  details 
of  business,  as  to  have  no  time  or  inclination  left  for  look- 
ing at  general  principles  ?  Were  more  attention  paid  to 
the  ascertaining  of  such  principles,  and  more  vigor  and 
consistency  manifested  in  prosecuting  them,  there  might 
be  less  of  glare  and  noise;  but,  assuredly,  there  would  be 
a  prodigious  saving  of  labor,  property,  and  life;  and  in  the 
end,  a  greater  degree  of  satisfaction  and  real  success."* 

Little  did  I  imagine,  when  the  above  para- 
graphs were  written,  that  the  observations  con- 
tained in  thern  might,  at  a  future  day,  be  ap- 
plicable to  myself,  and  that  I  might  be  called 
upon  to  account  for  neglecting  to  do  that,  which 
1  had  previously  intimated  persons  holding 
certain  situations  ought  to  do.  It  is  easier, 
however,  to  express  expectations,  and  to  form 
plans  for  others,  than  to  execute  ourselves.  I 
have  found  it  much  easier  to  devise  schemes  of 
my  own,  than  to  accomplish  them  ;  and  that  the 
details  of  business  are  not  always  favorable  to 
patient  investigation,  and  enlightened  deductions. 
But  I  cannot  help  frankly  avowing,  that  it  was 
my   intention   to  attempt  something  of  the  kind 

•  Memoirs  of  Urquhart,  Vol.  I.  pp.  91,92. 


18 

described  by  myself,  as  soon  as  I  had  the  means 
and  opportunity  for  so  doing.  While  pondering 
the  plan  it  might  be  proper  to  adopt,  the  Letters 
now  presented  to  the  public  came  into  my  hands, 
and,  after  considerable  delays,  I  have  been 
enabled  to  carry  them  through  the  press. 

These  Letters  embrace  some  of  the  important 
topics  to  which  I  have  adverted,  and  on  the 
points  which  they  embrace,  supersede  the 
necessity  of  any  further  discussion.  They  are 
the  production,  not  of  a  theorist,  but  of  a  prac- 
tician ;  not  of  a  speculator,  but  of  an  active 
operator  in  the  fields  which  he  describes;  of 
one  who  has  followed  the  path  which  he  recom- 
mends to  others,  and  calls  for  no  sacrifice  which 
he  has  not  himself  made.  Such  a  man  demands 
to  be  heard  on  grounds  peculiar  to  himself,  and 
his  testimony  ought  not  to  be  lightly  treated. 
On  every  thing  relating  to  the  qualifications, 
both  moral  and  intellectual,  of  missionaries, 
their  peculiar  temptations  and  difficulties,  the 
nature  of  their  labors,  and  the  sources  of  their 
anxiety,  their  encouragements  and  discourage- 
ments, the  reader  will  find  most  important  and 
experimental  instruction.  On  these  points,  and 
on  the  duty  of  Christians  to  devote  themselves 
and  their  property  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  I  have 
nothing  to  add  to  the  forcible  reasoning  of  the 
Letters.  Should  they  fail  to  convince,  I  am 
satisfied  it  must  be  from  want  of  inclination,  and 
not  from  deficiency  of  argument,  which  would 
not  be  improved  by  any  thing  I  could  state. 


19 

Another  important  department  of  the  subject 
of  Christian  Missions  has  recently  been  brought 
before  the  public,  by  an  able  writer,  in  what  he 
calls  a  •'  New  Model  of  Christian  Missions  to 
Popish,  Mohammedan,  and  Pagan  Nations." 
The  author  of  the  "  Natural  History  of  Enthusi- 
asm" was  not  likely  to  publish  on  this  important 
subject,  what  had  not  occupied  a  considerable 
portion  of  careful  and  matured  thought;  and  the 
thoughts  of  such  an  individual  cannot  fail  to  be 
deserving  of  the  thoughts  of  others.  It  would 
not  be  matter  of  surprise,  however,  if  a  mind, 
capable  of  producing  beautiful  illustrations  of 
enthusiasm,  and  of  analyzing,  with  admirable 
skill,  the  infinitely  diversified  forms  of  mental 
delusion,  should  fail  in  an  attempt  to  new  model 
systems  already  in  practical  operation,  and  to  re- 
cast the  whole  frame-work  of  our  Christian  in- 
stitutions. The  power  of  detecting  evils  and 
errors  may  exist  in  a  very  uncommon  degree, 
without  the  ability  to  plan  with  wisdom,  and  to 
create  efficiency.  Perspicacity  is  one  thing, 
practical  judgment  another.  There  may  be 
profound  philosophical  discrimination,  with  a 
very  ordinary  portion  of  sagacity  in  common 
things.  Newton  and  Locke  had  no  compeers 
among  the  philosophers  of  their  day,  but  were 
ordinary  men  in  regard  to  the  common  affairs  of 
life. 

I  am  mistaken  if  this  will  not  be  found  appli- 
cable to  the  author  of  the  "  New  Model,"  who 
I  apprehend  has  failed  as  an  architect,  while  he 


20 

has  succeeded  as  a  philosopher.  In  this  latter 
capacity  he  has  succeeded,  1  should  suppose, 
to  the  full  extent  of  his  wishes;  in  the  former 
his  success  is  yet  to  be  proved.  He  can  afford 
to  lose  a  little,  should  he  be  disappointed  ; 
though  I  much  mistake  his  feelings,  if  he  would 
not  be  more  gratified  by  the  accomplishment  of 
his  projected  plan  of  union  of  counsel,  and  di- 
vision of  labor,  than  by  all  the  fame  he  is  des- 
tined to  enjoy  as  a  Christian  essayist. 

His  celebrity  in  that  capacity  is  in  danger  of 
producing  an  impression  in  favor  of  his  repre- 
sentations and  reasonings  on  the  subject  of 
Christian  Missions,  to  which,  in  themselves, 
they  are  not  entitled,  and  which,  independently 
of  this  association,  they  would  not  effect.  The 
author  must  be  aware  of  this,  and  will  not, 
therefore,  be  surprised,  that  his  views  should 
be  examined  with  great  jealousy,  on  the  part  of 
those  who  are  engaged  in  existing  operations. 
If  they  should  think  that  his  pamphlet  is  cal- 
culated to  diminish  confidence  in  plans  which 
have  long  been  prosecuted — to  cherish  despond- 
ency respecting  the  success  of  exertions  which 
are  now  made  —  to  generate  coldness  and  dis- 
affection to  then),  and,  consequently,  to  paralyze 
zeal  in  their  support — while  it  affords  no  ground 
to  expect  that  the  new  and  better  way  is  likely 
to  be  adopted  ; — he  will  readily  admit,  that  it  is 
their  duty  to  recommend  adherence  to  what  has 
been  tried,  and  not  yet  found  wanting,  instead 
of  adopting   other    plans,    however    plausible, 


21 

which  are  not  adapted  to  the  present  circum- 
stances of  the  church. 

While  I  make  these  remarks  with  the  utmost 
freedom,  I  should  be  sorry  to  meet  the  author  of 
the  "  New  Model"  in  an  unfriendly  manner,  or 
to  intimate  that  I  have  the  slightest  idea  he  is 
influenced  by  hostile  feelings  towards  the  insti- 
tutions which  are  now  endeavoring  to  spread 
the  gospel  through  the  world.  The  tendency  of 
some  of  his  statements  and  reasonings  may  be 
very  injurious,  while  his  object  and  aim  are  of 
the  most  Christian  and  benevolent  nature. 
Giving  him  full  credit  for  the  latter,  I  trust  he 
will  give  me  credit  also  for  a  sincere  and  anxious 
desire  to  promote  the  same  object  which  he  has 
in  view,  in  the  few  remarks  I  am  about  to  make 
on  some  of  his  positions. 

Before  offering  these  remarks,  which  I  do 
with  great  deference  to  the  author,  I  beg  to 
express  my  decided  approbation  of  the  temper 
and  spirit  in  which  he  has  conducted  the  dis- 
cussion. He  has  presented  a  model,  if  not  of 
Christian  Missions,  of  the  Christian  state  of  mind 
with  which  the  whole  subject  ought  to  be  viewed 
by  those  who  approach  it,  with  a  view  to  improve 
the  plan  on  which  they  are  conducted.  He  is 
right  in  inviting  an  investigation.  Truth  can 
suffer  nothing  from  fair  and  free  inquiry,  con- 
ducted in  the  way  he  has  exemplified.  We  are 
too  ready  to  be  satisfied  with  things  as  they  are, 
to  conclude  that  whatever  is,  is  best ;  and  to  be 
exceedingly  fretted  if  any  suspicions  are  enter- 
2 


22 

tained  that  all  we  have  done,  or  are  doing,  is 
right.  The  love  of  novelty,  it  is  true,  is  dan- 
gerous;  but  there  is  danger  also  in  a  blind 
adherence  to  the  traditions  of  our  fathers.  If, 
therefore,  we  cannot  show  that  plans  already 
adopted  are  scriptural  and  efficient,  by  all  means 
let  us  listen  to  any  individual  who  proposes  to 
show  us  a  more  excellent  way. 

On  the  subject  of  division  of  labor,  the  author 
has  said  many  excellent  things.  It  has  been  too 
little  attended  to,  though  not  entirely  neglected. 
Most  of  the  Missionary  Societies  now  existing, 
embrace  too  many  objects,  or  occupy  too  many 
different  stations  and  fields  of  labor.  There  is 
much  truth  in  the  following  representation  : — 

"  It  is  perfectly  veil  known  that,  except  on  peculiar 
occasions,  the  actual  business  of  every  charitable  insti- 
tution is  transacted  by  a  very  small  number  of  zealous 
individuals,  who  perhaps  are  as  often  thwarted  and  embar- 
rassed, as  aided  by  their  colleagues.  Of  necessity, 
therefore,  it  must  be  that  when  a  Society  occupies  an 
extensive  and  various  field  of  labor,  the  few  efficient 
individuals  are  compelled,  often  at  the  expense  of  health 
and  peace  of  mind,  to  give  their  distracted  attention,  in 
rapid  succession,  now  to  the  home  concerns  of  the 
society,  and  now  to  its  foreign  operations;  and  these 
foreign  operations  are  of  the  most  dissimilar  character. 
Placed  in  circumstances  so  perplexing,  what  can  be  ex- 
pected, even  from  the  most  accomplished  talent,  and  the 
most  unwearied  assiduity,  but  a  vague,  inappropriate,  and 
almost  imbecile  suffusion  of  mental  strength  over  the  im- 
mense surface  of  affairs.  And  what  can  be  expected  from 
zeal  so  disadvantaged,  but  a  waste  of  resources  upon  pro- 
jects which,  though  they  might  have  succeeded  had  they 
enjoyed  the  benefit  of  undiverted  counsels,  could  not  but 


23 

fail   when   they   shared  the  attention  with  a   multitude 
of  dissimilar  concerns  ? 

"  And  lei  us  turn  into  another  street,  and  enter  another 
*  upper-chamher'  of  Christian  business ;  and  there  see 
another  little  knot  of  zealous  men,  distracting  themselves 
by  an  almost  fruitless  attention  to  the  very  same  extended 
circle  ot  multifarious  objects.  Again  we  may  visit  another, 
and  yet  another  committee — not  each  concentrating  its 
forces  upon  a  single  specific  object — not  each  constituted 
of  individuals  personally  qualified  for  the  tasks  they 
severally  undertake;  but  each  promiscuously  gathered 
from  the  narrow  circle  of  a  particlar  party,  and  each 
burdened,  and  over-hurdened  by  the  well-meant  ambition 
of  effecting  something  at  all  points,  and  something  of  all 
kinds.  And  does  this  missionary  system  approve  itself  to 
reason  .?  or  is  it  not  rather  a  most  ruinous  chaos,  in  which, 
though  pure  motives  may  be  very  conspicuous,  manly 
wisdom  is  not  at  all  seen  ?"     pp.  46 — 48.* 

The  esse  is  here  powerfully  put,  and  the  state 
of  matters  thus  described  demands  the  most 
serious  consideration  of  our  Missionary  Societies 
and  Committees.  The  chaos,  however,  is  not 
so  ruinous  as  is  alleged  ;  nor  is  the  case  beyond 
cure,  without  entirely  new  modeling  our  insti- 
tutions. There  are  two  obvious  departments  in 
every  Missionary  Soeiety  :  the  raising  of  funds, 
and  the  foreign  application  of  them.  They  do 
not  so  necessarily  involve  each  other,  as  that  all 
the  parties  engaged  in  the  one,  ought  to  be  equal- 
ly engaged  in  the  other.  On  the  contrary,  they 
require  different  kinds  of  talent  and  of  informa- 
tion ;  and  the  less  they  are  mixed  up  with  each 
other,  the   more  effectually  is  the  common  end 

*  The  reference  is  to  the  American  Edition. 


24 

of  both  likely  to  be  attained.  Were  this  the 
case,  there  would  be  a  vast  saving  both  of  time 
and  of  labor.  It  is  perfectly  absurd  to  find  thirty 
or  forty  persons  as  gravely  engaged  in  discussing 
the  payment  of  a  twenty  pound  bill,  or  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  porter,  as  in  the  direction  and 
arrangement  of  a  score  of  missionaries,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  globe.  It  is  desirable  that 
missionary  directors  should  be  men  of  informa- 
tion, talents,  and  influence  ;  but  it  is  not  neces- 
sary that  they  should  be  all  equally  capable  of  do- 
ing all  things.  The  present  constitution  of  these 
societies  does  not  necessarily  involve  this  absur- 
dity of  management  ;  I  do  not  see,  therefore, 
that  it  ought  to  be  persevered  in. 

I  very  much  like  the  idea  which  is  suggested 
in  this  pamphlet,  that  the  management  of  every 
Mission  should  be  confined  to  a  small  number  of 
individuals,  known  to  be  thoroughly  qualified 
for  conducting  the  undertaking — persons  deeply 
read  in  the  history  and  circumstances  of  the 
people  to  whom  the  Mission  is  sent  ;  and  capable 
of  giving  such  a  direction  to  all  the  means  in 
their  power,  as  by  the  Divine  blessing  may  be 
productive  of  the  greatest  effect.  I  would  not 
confine  the  following  observations  to  Mohamme- 
dan Missions  ;  I  would  extend  the  principle  to 
all  Missions.  The  parties  who  conduct  them 
ought  fully  to  understand  every  thing  which 
relates  to  the  field  of  labor  which  is  occupied, 
and  ought  to  be  able  to  give  a  large  portion  of 
undistracted  attention  to  it. 


25 

"  Tn  conducting  a  Mission  to  Mohammedan  nations, 
is  it  enough  that  men  should  be  zealous,  prayerful,  kind- 
hearted  ?  Is  it  .enough  that  they  should  be  expert  in 
managing , those  details  of  business  which  are  common  to 
a  Missionary  Society  with  every  other  charitable  insti- 
tution >  Or  is  it  enough  that  they  should  be  competent  to 
read  sound  theological  lectures  to  candidates  for  the  work, 
or  that,  in  sending  out  their  missionaries,  they  should  be 
able  to  address  to  them  powerful  and  pathetic  harangues  ? 
Is  it,  in  a  word,  enough,  that  they  should  be  just  qualified 
to  do  that  which  should  be  done  if  we  had  only  to  send 
out  a  company  of  preachers  to  officiate  in  the  chapels  of 
an  English  colony  ?  All  this  is  not  enough.  The  pro- 
jectors and  managers  of  such  anattack  upon  Mohammedan- 
ism as  the  present  moment  invites,  should  be  the  four  or 
five  individuals  who  might  be  picked  out  from  the  fourteen 
millions  of  our  population.  And  these  four  or  five  gifted 
men  should  be  solemnly  called  forth  by  the  voice  of  the 
'  Christian  public,  and  should  be  placed  in  a  condition  in 
which  they  might  feely  devote  the  undis'racted  attenlion  of 
their  remaining  years  to  the  great  work.  And  let  the 
agency  of  these  individuals  be  as  much  blended  as  you 
please  with  influence  of  a  more  popular  kind  ;  and  let  pub- 
lic opinion  bear  with  its  whole  force  upon  whatever  they 
do.  We  want  no  snug  or  sleeping  secrecy ;  but  we 
absolutely  need  qualified  and  permanent  agents  for  the 
achievement  of  difficult  tasks."     pp.  38,  39. 

While  I  agree  in  a  great  measure  with  the 
author  of  this  paragraph  in  the  sentiment  of  the 
above  passage,  I  frankly  own  that  there  is  not 
only  much  difficulty  likely  to  be  experienced  in 
finding  these  four  or  five  gifted  individuals  ;  but 
in  the  present  state  of  the  religious  world,  if 
they  were  found,  they  would  not  probably  feel 
disposed  to  take  upon  them  so  solemn  and  irk- 
some a  responsibility,  unless  in  conjunction  with 
others.  A  very  small  number  of  persons  would 
2* 


26 

be  regarded  with  great  jealousy  by  the  mass ; 
while  on  their  own  part  the  consciousness  of 
being  the  object  of  this  jealousy,  and  apprehen- 
sion of  public  dissatisfaction,  would  embarrass 
and  enfeeble  their  measures.  As  things  are, 
though  these  richly  qualified  men  are  rare,  it  is 
quite  practicable  to  make  an  appropriate  selec- 
tion of  individuals  for  the  several  kinds  of  work 
which  must  be  performed  ;  and  perhaps  more  is 
done  in  this  way  already  than  the  author  of  the 
"  New  Model  "  is  aware  of. 

On  the  general  division  of  missionary  fields, 
were  the  work  to  be  commenced  de  novo,  I  think 
the  suggestions  of  the  author  would  well  deserve 
consideration.  But  perhaps  the  substance  of 
his  views  may  be  reduced  to  practice  without 
any  violent  change  in  our  existing  societies. 
The  Jews'  Society  is  already  sufficiently  dis- 
tinct ;  the  Continental  Society  has  only  to  direct 
its  energies  and  resources  more  powerfully  to 
the  Catholic,  and  to  the  scarcely  less  ignorant 
and  irreligious  Protestant  states  of  Europe.  Had 
the  Scottish  Missionary  Society  not  abandoned 
its  operations  in  the  Crimea,  and  in  Russian 
Tartary,  it  might  have  employed  all  its  funds  and 
agents  among  the  Mohammedan  nations.  What 
hinders  that  it  should  give  this  direction  yet  to 
its  missionaries  in  the  East ;  or  if  it  cannot, 
why,  if  we  have  the  means,  not  form  a  society 
with  an  exclusive  view  to  the  benefit  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  the  false  prophet  ? 

All  the  rest  of  the  world,   unless  we  would 


27 

have  a  distinct  society  for  every  nation  under 
heaven,  is  divided  into  two  parts,  the  civilized 
and  the  uncivilized.  This,  is  in  fact,  the  great 
and  the  most  important  division  among  the  na- 
tions. In  regard  to  the  civilized  nations  of  the 
earth,  such,  I  mean,  as  India,  China,  and,  gen- 
erally speaking,  the  countries  of  the  Eastern 
hemisphere,  one  description  of  means  substan- 
tially will  apply  to  them  all — well  educated  men 
and  suitable  books.  We  must,  and  ought  to 
have  a  large  body  of  well  instructed,  energetic, 
tried,  and  enterprising  men,  for  every  part  of 
this  quarter  of  the  globe  ;  he  who  would  thus  be 
found  qualified  for  one  portion  of  it,  cceteris  pa- 
ribus, would  not  be  disqualified  for  any  other. 
The  man  who  can  suggest  the  most  likely  method 
of  finding  such  persons,  would  confer  great  obli- 
gation on  the  friends  of  missions.  Whatever  be 
our  plan  of  operation,  every  thing,  under  God, 
depends  on  our  having  the  right  sort  of  men.  I 
do  not  say  we  have  not  yet  found  them.  Bless- 
ed be  God,  not  a  few  such  persons  have  been 
found,  of  which  the  writer  of  the  following  let- 
ters is  an  instance.  But  we  require  more  of  this 
description  ; — not  merely  men  of  piety  and  of 
zeal  ;  but  men  of  wisdom  and  prudence  ;  of 
enlarged  and  well  cultivated  minds  ;  fertile  in 
resource;  patient  as  well  as  indefatigable  in 
labor — capable  of  rousing  a  country  by  their  en- 
ergy, their  fearlessness,  and  their  devoted  piety. 
The  barbarous  or  uncivilized  parts  of  the 
world  require  a  peculiar  kind  of  labor,  which  de- 


28 

mands  scarcely  less  talent  and  wisdom,  though 
not,  perhaps,  such  eminent  attainments  as  the 
other.  The  Christianizing  of  these  countries  is 
but  one  part  of  the  work  which  must  be  done 
for  them.  It  was  taken  almost  for  granted,  at 
the  beginning,  that  as  soon  as  the  gospel  should 
be  received  by  persons  in  such  circumstances, 
they  would  become  civilized.  This  is  so  far 
true.  They  are  brought  under  the  power  of 
principles  on  which  the  whole  structure  of  civ- 
ilization may  be  reared.  But  unless  we  are  pre- 
pared to  assist  the  work  of  evangelization,  after 
it  has  begun  in  a  savage  country,  by  all  the 
means  which  the  new  state  of  society,  and  the 
new  wants  of  the  people  will  require,  we  only  do 
the  work  in  half.  It  will  either,  in  the  course 
of  time,  lose  ground,  or  it  will  require  all  the 
resources  of  our  societies  merely  to  preserve  the 
mission  stations,  which  have  been  formed,  in 
existence. 

Whether  Missionary  Societies  have  adopted 
the  wisest  plan  in  bestowing  so  large  a  portion 
of  their  means  and  attention  on  barbarous,  or 
semi-barbarous  nations,  while  so  large  a  portion 
of  the  civilized  world  remains  unoccupied,  this 
is  neither  the  time  nor  place  to  discuss.  But  of 
one  thing  I  feel  deeply  convinced,  that  we  are 
in  want  of  some  additional  means  for  carrying 
forward  the  work  both  of  civilization  and  of  con- 
version in  those  savage,  countries,  which  appear 
to  have  benefited  from  our  labors.  I  do  not  hes- 
itate to  say  that  the  London  Missionary  Society 


29 

does  not  possess,  nor  is  it  likely  to  possess,  suffi- 
cient means  for  the  Christianizing  and  the  civ- 
ilizing of  the  South  Sea  islands,  and  South 
Africa  alone.  All  its  funds  would  be  more  than 
absorbed  in  the  temporal  improvement  of  these 
regions,  so  as  to  put  their  Christian  inhabitants 
in  a  permanent  state  of  improvement  and  secu- 
rity. Nor  is  a  Missionary  Society  the  best  in- 
strument for  effecting  much  that  such  a  state  of 
things  requires.  When  it  has  introduced  the 
gospel  to  the  people,  it  has  really  done  all  it  is 
properly  competent  to,  or  that  it  has  undertaken. 
For  when  the  people  must  be  taught  the  arts 
and  sciences,  formed  into  a  regular  political 
community,  guided  in  the  enactment  and  exe- 
cution of  laws,  and  aided  in  the  embryo  ef- 
forts of  commerce  and  merchandize — a  thousand 
things  arise  which  a  mere  Missionary  Society 
cannot  attempt  or  interfere  with. 

Whether  the  present  state  of  our  country  does 
not  suggest  an  additional  means  of  promoting 
the  interests  of  the  gospel  among  the  heathen,  I 
beg  to  submit  to  the  candid  consideration  of  the 
Christian  reader.  After  the  day  of  Pentecost 
it  does  not  appear  that  the  early  disciples  were 
sufficiently  disposed  to  carry  into  execution  the 
commission  of  their  Master — they  tarried  in 
Jerusalem,  not  only  till  they  were  endued  with 
power  from  on  high,  but  long  after.  They  were 
pleased  with  their  privileges,  and  were  satisfied 
to  dwell  among  their  own  people.  It  deserves 
to  be  noticed,  that  it  was  in  consequence  of  the 


30 

persecution  which  arose  about  Stephen,  that 
they  were  dispersed,  and  went  every  where 
preaching  the  Word.  Without  the  aid  of  such 
dispersions,  which  carried  the  seed  of  the  Word 
to  quarters  which  would  not  have  been  volun- 
tarily visited,  I  doubt  whether  the  apostles,  aided 
with  all  their  supernatural  powers,  would  have 
been  able  to  establish  the  kingdom  of  God  in  so 
many  countries,  in  so  short  a  space. 

We  are  not  persecuted  by  men,  but  our  popu- 
lation is  greatlv  afflicted  by  the  providence  of 
God.  The  difficulty  of  providing  for  families 
every  day  increases,  and  is  not  likely  to  diminish. 
In  these  circumstances  ought  not  Christians  to 
consider  what  is  the  voice  of  Providence  ?  Is 
not  the  world  all  before  them  ?  Do  they  not 
profess  to  be  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  earth  ? 
Why  that  cleaving  to  a  native  land,  if  it  is  a 
land  of  dearth  or  of  barrenness,  though  of  spirit- 
ual good,  while  they  might  in  another  region,  as 
near  to  the  heavenly  world,  and  to  its  glories,  as 
Britain,  provide  for  themselves  and  their  families, 
and  materially  promote  the  interests  of  the  cause 
of  God  ?  Emigration  on  Christian  principles, 
and  for  Christian  objects,  has  not  yet  been  pro- 
perly tried.  Look  at  America,  towering  already 
in  greatness,  and  with  a  giant's  step  advancing 
to  pre-eminence  among  the  nations.  Who  cut 
down  its  forests,  and  drained  its  marshes,  and 
planted  its  towns,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  its 
free  and  enlightened  government?  The  pilgrim 
fathers  who  left,  or  rather  were  driven  from  our 


31 

shores,  to  find  a  refuge  or  a  grave  on  a  foreign 
strand.  There  God  has  greatly  blessed  them, 
yea,  and  they  shall  be  blessed. 

It  is  hy  some  such  means,  I  apprehend,  the 
gospel  must  be  planted  and  watered  in  other 
countries,  if  the  work  is  effectually  to  be  done. 
I  am  glad  to  find  that  attention  is  beginning  to 
be  given  to  this  subject.  In  the  "  Congrega- 
tional Magazine"  for  this  month,  is  an  important 
letter  on  it ;  and  as  that  work  may  not  be  in  the 
hands  of  some  who  may  peruse  this  volume,  I 
shall  here  present  it  entire.  I  shall  only  say 
further,  that  the  writer  is  an  intelligent  Christian 
minister  known  to  me  ;  and  one  who  will  not 
be  found  unwilling  to  act  upon  his  own  plan, 
should  an  opportunity  be  presented. 

"  It  seems  to  be  the  opinion  of  the  best  informed  per- 
sons in  the  political  world,  that  the  state  of  England  calls 
imperatively  for  extensive  emigration,  and  many  thought- 
ful individuals,  though  possessed  of  a  little  property,  look 
with  much  anxiety  on  families  growing  up,  from  the  in- 
creasing difficulty  found  in  so  fixing  young  persons  as  to 
enable  them  to  marry  and  provide  for  themselves  and 
their  children. 

"  In  the  religious  world  an  idea  begins  also  to  prevail, 
that  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  might  be 
greatly  promoted  by  forming  Christian  settlements  in 
heathen  lands. 

"  I  have  therefore  to  propose,  that  a  number  of  persons 
of  piety  and  good  character,  members  of  Christian  socie- 
ties, (suppose  fifty  or  a  hundred  families,)  should  emi- 
grate in  a  body,  at  their  own  expense,  with  the  two-fold 
object  of  providing  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  good  of 
their  own  offspring,  and  of  extending  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  in  the  world.     Serious  persons,  from  the  laboring 


32 

classes,  might  be  taken  out  as  appendages,  for  a  time,  to 
those  in  better  circumstances. 

"  By  wise  and  prudent  measures,  a  tract  of  good  land, 
in  some  healthy  climate,  might  easily  be  procured,  at  a 
trifling  expense.  Matters  might  be  so  arranged,  that  the 
settlement  thus  about  to  be  formed,  should  be  subject  to 
such  scriptural  regulations  as  at  once  to  secure  the  fullest 
liberty  of  conscience,  and  yet  to  exclude  immorality. 

"  A  body  of  serious  persons  thus  going  out  together, 
and  fixing  near  each  other,  would  possess  advantages  of 
various  kinds,  too  obvious  to  be  enumerated  in  your  col-' 
umns.  Religious  worship,  education,  friendly  intercourse;. 
&c.  would  easily  be  brought  within  the  reach  of  all,  and 
most  of  the  circumstances  which  make  emigration  formi- 
dable might  thus  be  provided  against.  Some  experienced 
individuals  might  go  out  first  to  select  the  situation,  and 
arrange  every  thing  against  the  arrival  of  the  body  of 
settlers,  so  that  every  facility  might  be  in  readiness  to 
forward  them  to  their  place  of  destination  immediately  on 
landing. 

"  Were  such  a  plan  undertaken  wisely,  and  in  the  fear 
of  God,  the  good  to  be  anticipated  seems  incalculable.  If 
the  design  is  thought  to  deserve  encouragement,  let  it  be 
put  into  execution  without  an  hour's  unnecessary  delay. 
Let  a  few  persons  of  piety,  experience,  character,  and 
some  property,  form  themselves  into  a  committee,  either 
with  a  view  to  their  own  emigration,  or  the  encourage- 
ment and  direction  of  others.  Such  a  committee  might 
collect  information  from  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
British  Colonies,  from  the  conductors  and  histories  of 
Moravian  and  other  settlements  of  a  religious  character. 
Cotton  Mather's  account  of  the  first  settlers  in  New  Eng- 
land, would  furnish  many  valuable  hints,  if  culled  out 
from  the  strange  mass  of  matter  he  has  furnished.  The 
minds  of  many  are  at  this  moment  simultaneously  direct- 
ed to  the  object  proposed.  The  thing  need  only  to  be 
begun  in  a  truly  humble,  prayerful  spirit,  and  it  will,  I 
trust,  go  on  and  prosper  beyond  expectation.  The  writer 
is  willing  to  communicate,  through  the  Editors,  with 
those  who  think  with  himself,  that  the  project  deserves 
attention." 


33 

I  trust  I  shall  not  be  regarded  as  wandering 
from  the  object  of  these  remarks  on  the  "  New 
Model,"  by  the  introduction  of  this  topic.  In 
discussing  the  division  of  labor  in  the  manage- 
ment of  Christian  Missions,  I  think  it  right  to 
show  the  kind  of  division  which  may  be  most 
advantageously  prosecuted  ;  and  to  call  the 
attention  of  the  Christian  public  to  some  means 
which  it  has  yet  in  its  power  to  employ,  and 
which  the  providence  of  God  seems  to  demand. 

The  following  passage  in  the  "  New  Model" 
I  think  objectionable,  and  calculated  to  convey 
far  too  strong  a  view  of  the  inadequacy  or  un- 
suitableness  of  the  means  which  we  are  at  present 
employing.  After  commending  the  well  meant 
zeal  and  philanthropy  of  the  conductors  of  Mis- 
sions, the  author  remarks  : — 

"  Nevertheless  it  may  still  be  true  that  the  modern  sys- 
tem of  missionary  exertion,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  funda- 
mentally defective,  and  such  as  can  never,  unless  miracle 
comes  to  its  aid,  achieve  an  extensive  conquest  for  Chris- 
tianity. Nothing  less  than  the  exalted  virtues  and  admi- 
rable temper  of  the  founders  and  principal  supporters  of 
the  modern  Missionary  Societies  could  have  hidden  so 
long  from  our  eyes  the  capital  error  on  which  we  have 
been  acting.  We  have  been  putting  contempt,  not  only 
upon  the  requirements  of  Christianity,  but  upon  those 
universal  maxims  which  the  experience  of  mankind  has 
proved  to  be  indispensable  to  success  wherever  human 
agency  is  concerned.  Our  error  is  so  great,  and  the 
good  sense  of  the  age  so  efficacious,  when  once  set  in 
movement,  that  reform  cannot  be  distant.  The  elements 
of  Christian  zeal  must  presently  be  dissolved,  and  recom- 
posed  upon  a  new  model."    p.  9. 


34 

If  the  system  we  are  pursuing  be  indeed 
fundamentally  defective,  then,  of  course,  little 
good  is  to  be  expected  from  it,  and  the  sooner  it 
is  overthrown  the  better.  Miracles  themselves, 
I  conceive,  would  do  little  to  remedy  a  funda- 
mentally defective  system  of  operation.  They 
were  not  intended  to  remedy  or  supplement  such 
deficiences  at  first,  and,  of  course,  could  not  do 
so  were  they  now  restored.  But  I  submit  that 
only  one  of  two  things  can  render  a  system  of 
missionary  operation  fundamentally  defective — 
a  deficient  or  erroneous  system  of  Christianity, 
as  the  thing  propagated,  or  the  employment  of 
unchristian  or  unworthy  instruments  in  its  pro- 
pagation. Other  errors  may  affect  the  degree  of 
success  abroad,  or  the  degree  of  efficiency  and 
comfort  in  the  administration  at  home  ;  but 
these  evils  alone  can  affect  the  whole  plan,  and 
render  it  finally  abortive.  The  impression  which 
the  cited  paragraph  is  calculated  to  make,  there- 
fore, is  mischievous  ;  though,  I  am  sure,  the 
author  had  no  mischievous  intention  in  framing 
it.  For,  suppose  that  he  does  not  succeed  in 
"  dissolving  the  present  elements  of  Christian 
zeal,"  and  in  recomposing  them  upon  the  "  New 
Model  " — which  it  does  not  require  prophetic 
augury  to  foresee  that  he  will  not  — it  will  then 
follow  that  the  whole  Christian  world  is  engaged 
in  the  fruitless  prosecution  of  a  scheme  which  is 
radically  and  fundamentally  wrong.  A  more 
discouraging  view  of  matters,  or  one  more  likely 
to  paralyze  exertion,  it  is  not  possible  to  present. 


35 

Such  a  new  modeling  as  the  author  proposes, 
I  believe  to  be  impracticable,  to  be  undesirable, 
and  to  be  unnecessary.  It  is  impracticable 
without  creating  a  degree  of  confusion,  and  in- 
volving an  extent  of  mischief,  which,  I  am  sure, 
even  the  author  of  the  "  New  Model  "  would 
find  it  difficult  to  prevent,  and  impossible  to  con- 
template without  dismay.  He  must  be  aware  of 
the  difficulty  of  convincing  the  thousands  of  per- 
sons at  home,  of  the  necessity  of  such  a  refor- 
mation as  he  proposes,  without  whose  concur- 
rence it  could  not  be  carried  into  effect.  He 
must  also  know  that  we  cannot  re-model  the 
hundreds  of  agents  abroad,  at  our  will  and  plea- 
sure, many  of  whom  would  plead  conscience 
(the  most  unmanageable  of  all  things  by  human 
legislation),  in  bar  of  our  proceedings,  and  who, 
if  it  were  resolved  to  enforce  them,  would  move 
heaven  and  earth  by  their  outcries  against  our 
unjust  and  irreligious  proceedings.  The  author 
will  perceive  that  I  am  now  referring  particu- 
larly to  one  part,  and  that  a  leading  one,  of  his 
plan.  To  begin  a  new  scheme  is  one  thing,  to 
melt  down  and  re-cast  what  already  exists,  and 
which  is  the  more  difficult  to  touch  the  longer  it 
is  in  operation,  is  a  very  different  affair. 

I  think  such  an  attempt  exceedingly  undesira- 
ble. Its  success  is  very  doubtful — its  failure 
would  be  certain  ruin.  Experiments,  where 
there  is  great  hazard,  are  generally  inexpedient, 
as  the  probable  gain  may  scarcely  balance  the 
loss  actually  sustained.     Frequent  or  extensive 


36 

changes  are  never  deemed  expedient  in  the 
management  either  of  families  or  of  communities. 
It  is  not  possible  to  foresee  all  the  consequences 
which  may  arise  from  such  revolutions ;  and 
hence  in  general,  though  I  grant  it  is  often 
more  the  love  of  ease  than  the  consideration  of 
utility  that  operates,  men  prefer  the  ills  they 
know,  to  fleeing  to  others  which  they  know  not. 
It  would  not  be  difficult  to  pull  out  the  pins,  and 
break  the  main-springs  of  our  moral  machinery; 
but  it  might  be  found  impracticable  to  bring  it 
soon  again  into  efficient  operation.  It  is  easy 
to  cut  down  and  to  destroy,  compared  with  the 
labor  of  building  and  planting. 

For  similar  reasons,  I  do  not  think  such  an 
extensive  re-modeling  requisite.  I  think  the 
faults  of  the  present  system  greatly  exaggerated  ; 
the  good  effected  by  it  understated  or  overlooked, 
and  the  anticipated  advantages  of  the  more  excel- 
lent way  too  highly  colored.  Various  plans  at 
present  in  operation  require  amendment,  and 
they  are  susceptible  of  it,  without  admitting  that 
they  are  fundamentally  defective,  or  requiring 
that  the  whole  frame-work  should  be  taken  to 
pieces.  To  this  extent,  I  think,  some  of  the 
author's  views  call  for  attentive  consideration, 
and  will  not,  I  trust,  be  entirely  lost,  though  his 
main  object  should  fail. 

I  apprehend  this  ingenious  writer  attaches 
rather  more  importance  than  is  correct,  to  what 
he  calls  a  peculiarity  of  means,  which  he  seems 
to  think  must  be  nicely  studied  in  every  case  in 


37 

which  we  send  the  gospel  to  a  people.  Now, 
without  disputing  the  general  principle,  that  the 
means  must  be  adapted  to  the  end,*  1  conceive 
that  we  may  be  greatly  misled  by  it,  if  we  adopt 
human  views  of  adaptation  as  a  main  principle 
in  our  attempts  to  evangelize  the  world.  It 
would  bring  the  doctrine  of  expediency  into 
operation  to  a  far  greater  extent  than  has  ever 
yet  been  the  case.  It  would  reduce  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  kingdom  of  God  very  much  to 
a  thing  of  human  calculation.  I  cannot  think 
that  the  appropriateness  of  the  agent,  or  of  the 
means,  have  been  hitherto  altogether  neglected. 
Every  man  has  not  been  thought  qualified  for 
every  place,  or  for  every  kind  of  employment. 
The  work  has  not  been  carried  on  so  much  at 
random  as  our  author  supposes  ;  errors  and  faults 
have  been  committed,  but  all  has  not  been  error 
and  absurdity.  The  wisdom  which  selected  and 
sent  forth  Henry  Marty n,  or  William  Carey,  or 
Robert  Morrison,  and  all  missionary  wisdom  has 
not  been  entirely  expended  upon  them,  should 
not  be  forgotten  in  the  glare  or  splendor  of  a 
favorite  scheme,  or  in  the  zeal  to  censure  that 
which  is  far  from  perfect. 

On  another  point  also,  I  venture  to  suggest 
my  conviction,  that  the  author  has  far  too  lofty 
ideas  of  what  may  be  effected  by  an  extensive 
plan,  whose  wisdom  and  energy  would  be  de- 
monstrable to  all  the  world.  He  seems  to  think, 
that  if  there  were  no  fundamental  lack  of  this 
nature,  that  no  doubt  could  be  entertained  of  its 
3* 


certain  and  universal  success.  I  trust  I  shall 
never  be  an  advocate  for  evil  or  imperfection, 
or  stand  in  the  way  of  adopting  any  plan  which 
comes  recommended  by  Scripture,  or  by  its  ob- 
vious utility.  Yet  I  must  avow  my  belief,  that 
the  genius  and  design  of  Christianity  are  not 
favorable  to  this  view  of  its  propagation.  In 
genera],  the  more  of  man  that  appears  in  the 
work,  the  less  there  is  of  God.  The  whole  his- 
tory of  its  diffusion,  hitherto,  has  not  reflected 
great  honor  on  the  instruments  or  means  em- 
ployed. Its  success  in  any  country,  hitherto^ 
will  not  justify  the  Christian  church  in  saying, 
"  By  the  strength  of  my  hand  I  have  done  it, 
and  by  my  wisdom,  for  I  am  prudent."  Here, 
as  in  other  departments  of  his  great  dispensation, 
the  Lord  of  Hosts  seems  to  have  purposed  to 
stain  the  pride  of  all  human  glorying,  and  to 
bring  into  contempt  the  things  which  are  most 
esteemed  among  men.  "  Not  many  wise  men 
after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many  no- 
ble, have  been  employed  in  calling  others  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth.  But  God  hath  chosen 
the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the 
wise,  and  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  con- 
found the  mighty,  and  the  base  things  of  the 
world,  and  things  which  are  despised,  hath  God 
chosen ;  yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to  bring 
to  nought  things  that  are,  that  no  flesh  may 
glory  in  his  presence." 

I  am  fully  aware  that  this  mode  of  reasoning 
is  liable  to  abuse,  and  that  we  are  not  to  defend 


39 

our  folly  or  imprudence,  by  reference  to  the 
means  which  God  sometimes  makes  use  of. 
But  when  Christian  means  for  the  diffusion  of 
the  gospel  are  represented  as  fundamentally  de- 
fective, because  they  are  imperfect,  or  have  been 
unwisely  employed  ;  and  when  it  is  proposed  to 
supersede  them  by  a  magnificent  scheme  of 
human  framing,  it  is  proper  to  revert  to  the 
nature  and  genius  of  that  system  which  we  are 
engaged  in  propagating. 

One  great  object  of  the  pamphlet  which  has 
called  forth  these  remarks,  is  to  establish  the 
importance  and  necessity  of  placing  all  the  exer- 
tions and  institutions  of  a  missionary  character, 
under  one  great  episcopal  confederacy  ;  the 
benefits  of  which,  the  author  conceives,  are  al- 
most demonstrable.  Yet  I  have  not  observed 
that  he  has  any  where  stated  the  precise  nature 
of  the  plan  which  should  in  such  a  case  be 
adopted,  unless  the  following  paragraph  can  be 
considered  as  containing  it : — 

"  We  assume  the  supposition  that,  with  some  few  and 
small  exceptions,  the  forms  and  ritual  of  the  English 
Church  are  fixed  upon  as  those  which,  with  least  incon- 
venience, might  be  sent  abroad  by  a  United  Missionary 
Society.  It  remains  then  to  ask  the  several  classes  of 
Dissenters  how  much  of  compromise  or  concession  would 
actually  be  required  of  them  in  giving  their  support  to 
such  a  plan."     p.  115. 

Now  surely  such  a  person  as  the  writer  of  the 
"  New  Model  "  cannot  want  to  be  informed, 
that  the  difference  between  the  Church  and  the 


40 

Dissenters,  does  not  merely  respect  the  forms 
and  ritual  of  the  English  Church.  The  mere 
adoption  of  these,  he  cannot  imagine,  would  go 
a  great  way  to  convert  the  heathen,  or  even  to 
prove  that  there  is  a  substantial  union  among  the 
friends  of  Christianity.  If  he  proposes  to  carry 
the  union  further — that  all  missionaries  must  be 
ordained  by  the  Bishops  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, profess  their  assent  and  consent  to  all  that 
is  contained  in  the  Articles  and  Liturgy  of  the 
Church,  and  that  the  societies  generally  shall  be 
subject  to  episcopal  rule  and  government ;  he 
cannot  be  serious  in  expecting  that  we  are  pre- 
pared for  such  a  state  of  things  as  this,  or  that 
there  is  any  human  probability  the  time  will 
ever  come,  when  the  Christian  church  will  sub- 
mit to  it.  Yet  any  thing  less  than  this  would 
not  answer,  as  far  as  I  can  conjecture,  the 
author's  views.  He  speaks,  but  with  amazing 
tenderness  for  the  scruples  and  feelings  of 
church-men,  of  their  "  setting  an  example  of 
forbearance,  by  admitting  a  few  modifications, 
or  retrenchments,  into  the  forms  abroad  ;"  and 
of  their  doing  this,  "  not  so  much  to  satisfy  their 
dissenting  brethren,  as  attending  to  hints  and 
acknowledgments  advanced  by  pious  church- 
men." He  appeals  to  them,  whether  they  ought 
to  contend  thus  far  for  "  an  indifferent  partic/e, 
a  worthless  particle ,"  to  gratify  "  the  wishes  or 
weaknesses  of  their  brethren."  Truly,  if  there 
is  no  contest  among  us,  except  about  indifferent 
and  worthless  particles,  the  controversy  must  be 


41 

a  very  indifferent  and  worthless  affair  altogether, 
and  the  sooner  that  it  is  ended  the  better. 

If  he  would  carry  his  "  New  Model  "  of  epis- 
copacy a  little  farther  than  he  has  thought  it 
right  to  express;  if  it  is  not,  after  all,  the  entire 
system  of  the  Church  of  England  he  would  send 
abroad,  but  some  improvement  or  modification 
of  it,  then  I  submit,  the  scheme,  so  far  from  pro- 
ducing unity,  would  create  another  division  ;  a 
new  party  would  be  formed,  neither  church  nor 
dissent,  having  in  all  probability  some  of  the 
imperfections,  as  well  as  some  of  the  good  qual- 
ities of  both.  Instead,  therefore,  of  this  new 
model  producing  extensive  and  combined  union 
and  co-operation,  presenting  a  glorious  mass  of 
harmonious  principle  and  united  exertion,  it 
would  only  add  another  section  to  the  already 
divided,  and  as  the  author  imagines,  conflicting 
hosts. 

The  grounds  on  which  this  claim  is  put  forth 
on  behalf  of  the  church,  are  not  the  more  scrip- 
tural nature  of  its  forms  or  discipline  ;  but  from 
its  constituting  the  majority  in  this  country,  and 
possessing  various  other  advantages,  he  argues 
the  point  should  be  conceded  to  it.  On  this 
subject  the  following  passage  occurs  : — 

*'  The  sound  members  of  the  Established  Church,  the 
men— clergy  and  laity,  who  profess  the  doctrine  of  the 
martyrs,  the  saints,  the  sages  of  the  English  reformation, 
stand  certainly  distinguished  among  the  professors  of  the 
same  fnith,  if  not  by  number,  yet  by  several  signal  pre- 
eminences. To  them  (generally)  belongs  the  visible  ad- 
vantage of  secular  precedency.     With  them  are  rank  and 


42 

fortune ;  gifts  which  acceptably  may  be  laid  at  the  feet  of 
the  King  of  kings.  Theirs  are  the  benefits,  inestimable, 
of  thorough  education — an  advantage  which  tbe  Lord  bas 
in  every  age  vouchsafed  to  make  use  of  when  be  has  had 
eminent  public  services  in  hand.  By  them,  almost  exclu- 
sively, is  enjoyed  the  honor  of  enduring  something  more 
like  a  real  persecution  from  the  world,  than  has  been  suf- 
fered in  England  a  long  while  by  any  class  uf  Christians. 
And  may  it  not  be  added,  that  the  pious  members  of  the 
Established  Church  enjoy  at  the  present  moment,  byem- 
inence,  that  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  from  which 
spring  seriousness  of  temper,  simplicity  of  faith,  and  purity 
of  morals  ;  and  which  moreover  is  ordinarily  conferred 
upon  those  who  are  in  training  for  peculiar  sufferings  or 
services  ? 

"  These  distinctions  give  to  the  body  of  enlightened 
Churchmen  a  visible  claim  to  the  honor  of  taking  tbe  lead 
in  any  new  and  important  measures  in  which  the  interests 
of  Christianity  at  large  may  be  involved.  An  alternative 
not  to  be  evaded  is  before  these  persons  ; — they  must 
either  take  up  the  part  which  heaven  assigns  them,  or  lose 
rank  in  front  of  the  church  universal."     pp.  149,  150. 

On  this  paragraph,  were  I  writing,  like  the 
author  of  the  "  New  Model,"  under  a  mask,  I 
should  be  tempted  to  offer  some  strictures;  I 
consider  it  objectionable  in  principle,  and  incor- 
rect in  fact.  Comparisons  of  such  a  description 
are  odious  ;  they  either  savor  of  pride,  or  they 
provoke  to  its  exercise,  and  are  by  no  means 
calculated  to  promote  either  the  cause  of  religion, 
or  of  Christian  union.  If  the  author  expects 
that  union  will  be  accomplished  by  the  admis- 
sion of  such  statements,  I  am  afraid  he  has  little 
acquaintance  with  the  parties  who  are  expected 
to  make  the  sacrifices.  To  make  sacrifice  to 
principle,  and  to  a  sense  of  duty,  every  Christian 


43 

ought  to  consider  his  honor  ;  but  to  bow  down 
to  a  new  system  of  expediency,  the  necessity 
of  which  is  not  apparent,  and  which  cannot  be 
adopted  but  by  a  compromise  of  principle  and 
consistency,  is  too  much  to  require,  and  what 
would  be  dishonorable  to  do. 

On  Dissenters  the  subject  is  urged  in  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph  : — 

"  There  might  even  be  adduced  another  reason  of  the 
proposed  concession,  which  Churchmen,  without  dis- 
credit, might  urge,  and  of  which  Dissenters  might,  with 
honor  to  themselves,  acknowledge  the  force. — Is  it  not, 
by  usage  universal,  the  custom  for  lighter  carriages  to 
swerve  from  their  line  of  road,  in  favor  of  such  as  could 
not,  without  difficulty  nr  peril,  pull  out  of  their  rut  ? — Do 
the  Dissenters  pride  themselves  on  their  freedom  from 
the  restraints,  entanglements,  and  burdens,  of  statutes 
ecclesiastical  ? — do  they  glory  in  spurning  human  enact- 
ments ? — do  they  abhor  to  link  religion  with  secular  inter- 
ests?— do  they  rejoice  to  admit  no  forms  which,  as  indi- 
viduals, they  have  no  power  to  revise  or  refuse  ? — then 
let  them,  on  this  most  worthy  occasion,  and  on  the  loud 
call  of  pagan  misery,  use  their  boasted  liberty  for  the  best 
imaginable  purpose.  Now  let  it  be  their  glory  and  their 
honorable  boast  that,  when  the  advancement  of  our  com- 
mon Christianity  was  in  question,  they  could  and  they  did 
lay  their  several  preferences  on  the  altar  of  charity.  Is 
there  a  triumph  to  be  won  on  the  field  of  theological  strife 
that  can  equal  in  true  brilliancy  the  one  that  would  be 
obtained  by  such  a  concession,  prompted  by  such  a  mo- 
tive ?  Scarcely  ought  the  glory  of  martyrdom  to  rank 
above  it  : — an  offering  this — grateful  in  the  court  of 
heaven  beyond  the  fumes  of  very  much  incense !"  pp. 
Ill,  112. 

I  am  at  a  loss  to  know,  whether  the  author  is 
in  jest  or  earnest,  in  this  singular  mode  of  put- 


44 

ting  the  matter  before  Dissenters.  They  are 
referred  to  as  glorying  in  their  liberty,  in 
their  freedom  from  secular  entanglements  and 
other  things.  All  such  glorying  is  vain.  But 
can  this  writer  be  serious  in  saying  to  them, 
11  Gentlemen,  you  boast  of  the  enjoyment  of 
freedom  from  the  restraints,  entanglements,  and 
burdens,  which  Christ  has  not  imposed,  and 
which  man  ought  not  to  impose;  will  you  show 
your  love  of  liberty,  and  the  high-minded- 
ness  which  the  air  of  freedom  generates,  by 
consenting  to  become  bound  ?  ■  You  abhor  to 
link  religion  with  secular  interests  ;'  evince  the 
sincerity  of  your  abhorrence,  by  becoming  part 
and  parcel  of  a  secular  system.  You  admit  no 
forms  of  human  device  in  your  religion  ;  show 
your  spirituality  and  regard  for  the  authority  of 
God,  by  submitting  to  the  authority  of  man." 
This  is  the  meaning  of  the  proposition  when  re- 
duced to  plain  language;  and  this  renunciation 
of  Christian  liberty,  and  submission  to  restraint, 
are  supposed  to  be  required  for  the  conversion  of 
the  world,  and  to  be  the  likely  means  of  promot- 
ing it — magnified  to  the  rank  of  martyrdom,  and 
converted  into  fumes  of  incense  most  acceptable 
to  God.  Dissenters,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  ever 
be  ready  to  lay  their  preferences  on  the  altar  of 
charity.  They  have  done  so  often.  But  it  is 
too  much  to  require  them  to  lay  their  principles, 
and  nothing  less  than  a  sacrifice  of  principle  is 
required  by  the  above  demand.  This  would  not 
be  a  sacrifice  acceptable  and  well-pleasing  to 
God. 


45 

But  what  are  the  grounds  on  which  this  de- 
mand is  made  on  the  various  parties  which  com- 
pose the  Christian  world?  Has  the  author 
shown  that  there  is  such  a  collision  among  them 
in  their  attempts  at  propagating  the  gospel,  that 
they  are  thwarting  and  ruining  one  another? 
Have  they  forgotten  their  common  work,  and 
begun  to  fight  with  each  other  at  home,  or  to 
contend  with  one  another,  instead  of  the  com- 
mon enemy,  abroad  ?  Is  their  time  spent  in 
trying  which  shall  supplant  the  other  in  public 
estimation,  or  secure  the  glory  of  conquests  that 
do  not  belong  to  them  ?  No  such  thing.  The 
author  seems  to  admit  that  there  is  a  large  por- 
tion of  good  feeling  and  cordiality  existing  among 
the  several  battalions  of  the  one  army  of  Christ. 
It  is  so,  I  believe,  in  fact;  there  is  no  jealousy, 
clashing,  or  counter-working.  It  is  acknow- 
ledged that  the  conduct  of  Christians  at  home, 
is  strikingly  illustrative  of  this  substantial  union. 
We  have  got  the  spirit  and  the  principle  of 
union,  but  we  want  the  livery,  the  uniform  of 
one  party.  It  is  not  enough  to  swear  allegiance 
to  the  cross,  and  to  march  as  one  man  under  its 
banner  ;  all  this  will  avail  little,  unless  we  adopt 
the  facings,  and  adorn  ourselves  with  the  epau- 
lets, of  a  human  leader.  To  be  successful,  we 
must  submit  to  a  new  act  of  uniformity. 

A  more  satisfactory  illustration  of  the  actual 

unity     which    exists    among    the    missionaries 

abroad,  could   not  be   furnished,   than    what  is 

contained  in  the  following  paragraph.     1  believe 

4 


46 

the  author  to  be  perfectly  just  in  his  supposition  ; 
but  what  then  becomes  of  his  argument  ?  If 
such  a  degree  of  union  already  exists,  why  not 
let  well  alone  1 

"  I  think  I  could  engage  to  bring  home  from  India,  or 
from  Africa,  a  bundle  of  sermons,  and  expositions,  and 
private  conversations,  taken  verbatim  from  our  missiona- 
ries of  various  denominations;  and  after  expunging,  per- 
haps, here  and  there  a  phrase,  offer  the  collection  to  the 
Christian  world,  and  challenge  the  several  sects  to  claim 
their  own  out  of  the  mass.  Mistakes  much  more  improba- 
ble have  often  been  fallen  into  than  that,  for  example,  of  the 
Congregationalist,  who,  in  looking  over  such  a  parcel, 
should  lay  claim  to  the  discourses  of  the  Church  Mission- 
ary ;  while  a  Churchman,  perhaps,  would  challenge  the 
sermon  of  a  Dissenter  ;  the  We-deyan  those  of  the  Baptist ; 
and  possibly  the  Baptist  might  lay  his  hand  on  the  instruc- 
tions of  a  teacher  who  sprinkles  rather  than  dip  !  Thus  it 
would  appear  that  the  very  opinions  which,  at  vast  cost, 
and  extreme  injury  to  the  great  cause,  we  have  shipped 
off  to  China,  or  the  Pacific,  are  so  unsubstantial  or 
evanescent,  that  we  cannot  recognize  them  when  again 
brought  back  to  us.  For  what  valuable  consideration  is 
it  then,  that  we  are  dividing  our  efforts  till  they  become 
feeble  and  inefficient?  For  what  are  we  putting  con- 
tempt upon  Christianity  in  the  sight  of  the  profane  at 
home,  and  of  heathens  abroad  ?  For  what  are  we  stretch- 
ing our  differences  from  one  side  of  the  globe  to  the  other  ? 
For  what  are  we  putting  in  peril  the  conversion  of  the 
world  at  this  auspicious  moment,  when  Heaven  has  loudly 
called  us  to  the  work?  We  are  submitting  to  all  this 
damage,  and  incurring  all  this  hazard,  and  putting  all  this 
dishonor  upon  the  gospel,  for  the  perpetuation  of  opin- 
ions, which,  in  fact,  we  find  it  hard  to  preserve  from 
evaporation  ere  they  have  crossed  the  line  !"     pp.  73, 74. 

On  the  latter  part  of  this  passage,  I   beg  to 
remind  the  author,  that  he  has  not  shown   that 


47 

our  efforts  are  either  feeble  or  inefficient;  that 
we  are  putting  contempt  on  Christianity  either 
at  home  or  abroad  ;  that  we  are  stretching  our 
differences  across  the  globe,  or  periling  the  con- 
version of  the  world.  All  this  is  the  phantom 
of  his  own  imagination,  conjured  up  to  frighten 
women  and  children. 

The  author  proposes  a  scheme  of  reconcilia- 
tion to  the  various  parties  which  are  at  present 
engaged  in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  hea- 
then. Moravians,  Methodists,  Independents, 
and  Baptists,  are  severally  addressed,  entreated 
to  renounce  their  respective  costume,  and  to 
assume  the  common  garb  of  Episcopacy.  He 
finds  it  very  difficult  to  manage  our  Baptist 
brethren.  The  rough  garment  of  John  the  dip- 
per is  not  to  be  smoothed  d-own  :  he  tries  hard, 
is  sometimes  gentle,  and  sometimes  severe  ;  but 
he  cannot  manage  his  bristly  coat ;  he  is  obliged 
to  let  him  go  on  in  his  own  way,  with  the  fol- 
lowing apology  for  his  untoward  and  resolute 
adherence  to  his  schismatic  course. 

**  But  if  this  course  cannot — must  not  be  pursued,  then 
the  alternative  which  lies  before  our  Baptist  brethren  is 
precisely  that  which  common  sense,  not  to  say  Christian 
humility,  prescribes. — Let  them  be  content  to  set  before 
their  converts  the  simple  fact,  in  some  such  manner  as 
this — '  There  has  long  been  carried  on  a  dispute  among 
sincere  Christians  relative  both  to  the  mode  of  adminis- 
tering the  ordinance  of  baptism,  and  to  the  proper  suhject 
of  the  rite.  We  account  for  the  existence  of  this  strange 
and  ufihappy  misunderstanding,  not  by  granting  that  any 
impenetrable  obscurity  rests  upon  the  terms  in  which  the 
Lord  has  made  known  his  will  in  these  particulars  ;  but 


48 

by  supposing  that  a  superstitious  departure  from  the 
apostolic  practice  took  place  in  a  very  e*rly  age,  and 
gamed  universal  credit,  and  has  possessed  itself  so  firmly 
of  the  minds  of  the  generality  of  Christians,  that  they  are 
unable  to  tree  themselves  from  the  illusion,  or  to  perceive 
the  force  of  the  contrary  evidence,  which,  to  us  appears 
in  a  light  perfectly  convincing.  We  look  forward  to  the 
time  when  this  error  shall  be  dissipated,  and  when  the 
Christian  law  of  baptism  shall  be  understood  by  our  breth- 
ren, as  it  is  by  us.  Meanwhile,  as  you  see,  we  are  far 
from  imputing  to  those  who  differ  from  us,  any  contu- 
macious obstinacy,  or  guilty  persistence  in  error,  or  in- 
deed any  motive  inconsistent  with  the  genuineness  of  the 
Christian  character.  We  deplore  the  mistake  which,  as 
we  think,  they  have  fallen  into  ;  but  we  do  not  love  them 
the  less  on  account  of  it:  on  the  contrary,  we  respect 
their  virtues,  not  less  than  as  if  they  thought  with  us: 
we  cultivate  personal  friendship  with  them  ;  we  hold 
with  them  undisturbed  Church  co?nmnnion ;  we  join 
hands  with  thein  heartily  in  every  effort  to  do  good  ;  rind 
even  more  than  this  ; — in  order  that  we  may  put  no  hin- 
drance in  the  way  of  the  measures  used  for  the  spread 
of  the  gospel,  we  consent  to  do  and  to  say  rather  less  and 
rather  more,  than  we  should,  if  acting  simply  on  our  own 
convictions,  without  regard  to  the  opinion  of  others.' 

"  If  once  this  tone  of  reasonable  moderation  and  of  Chris- 
tian simplicity  were  taken; — and  I  am  reluctant  to  believe 
that  any  other  would  be  assumed  ;  then,  a  diversity  of 
opinion  and  practice  would  cease  to  be  a  great  evil  ;  and 
means  of  accommodation  might  readily  be  devised. 
Baptist  teachers,  wherever  they  might  be  called  to  labor, 
would  enjoy  the  liberty  which  belongs  to  every  Christian, 
to  set  forth,  in  charitable  terms,  and  on  proper  occasions, 
the  grounds  of  their  peculiar  opinions;  and  they,  and 
those  converts  who  might  be  convinced  by  their  argu- 
ments, would  be  free,  individually,  to  abstain  from  any 
practice  which  they  think  unwarranted  by  Scripture,  and 
to  observe  any  ceremonial  which  they  think  of  divine 
authority.  This  extent  of  liberty  could  generate  no  mis- 
chief within  a  Church  where  common  sense  and  Christian 
charity  preside."     pp.  127—130. 


49 

Here  I  humbly  submit  that  the  author  has 
given  up  his  cause.  If  the  apology  now  pre- 
sented would  avail  for  a  Baptist,  why  not  for  a 
Moravian,  a  Presbyterian,  an  Independent,  or 
a  Methodist?  On  what  grounds  of  Christian  jus- 
tice or  forbearance  is  a  Baptist  to  be  entitled  to 
a  plea  which  shall  be  valid  in  his  case,  but  irre- 
levant in  every  other?  Why  this  vast  charity 
and  gentleness  in  reference  to  one  party,  and  the 
language  of  severity  to  others?  If  in  reference 
to  them  it  is  admitted,  that  were  such  a  tone  of 
moderation  and  simplicity  adopted,  "  diversity 
of  opinion  and  practice  would  cease  to  be  a  great 
evil,"  then  I  contend  it  must  be  no  less  applica- 
ble to  others.  1  will  go  farther;  the  "  modera- 
tion and  simplicity"  exist — they  are  the  spirit 
and  principle,  so  far  as  I  can  judge,  of  all  the 
existing  societies  for  the  propagation  of  the  gos- 
pel, with  the  exception  of  certain  institutions, 
which,  though  it  may  be  offensive  to  the  author 
of  the  "  New  Model,"  he  must  be  told,  belong, 
exclusively,  to  the  order  under  which  he  would 
wish  us  all  henceforth  to  rank.  [I  shall  not  be 
supposed  to  refer  to  the  Church  Missionary  So- 
ciety.] I  believe  the  moderation  and  simplicity 
referred  to,  belong  to  the  workmen  abroad  as 
well  as  to  the  workmen  at  home.  For  what  then 
is  the  author  contending  ? — The  veriest  shadow 
of  a  shade. 

On  one  point  more  I  must  remark — the  repre- 
sentation of  the  fundamental  principle  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society.  After  stating  that 
4* 


50 

principle  correctly,  and  referring  to  the  practice 
of  the  society,  which  he  supposes  sends  out  only 
Independents,  which  is  not  altogether  the  case  ; 
and  even  in  the  extent  to  which  it  does,  it  acts 
from  necessity,  not  from  choice  ;  he  says, — 

"  It  is  not  then  true,  either  that  the  London  Missionary 
Society  sends  abroad  no  form  of  Christianity,  or  that  it 
sends  indiscriminately  and  at  random,  this  form  and  that. 
The  practice  of  the  society  must  be  deemed  the  best 
interpreter  of  its  professed  principle  ;  and  this  principle 
we  are  compelled  to  understand  as  meaning  simply — that 
forms  and  modes  are,  in  the  esteem  of  the  society,  things 
of  very  inferior  importance  ;  and  that  if  it  can  but  diffuse 
the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  it  cares  not  at  all,  or  cares 
little,  whether  the  Christianity  it  propagates  assume  the 
garb  of  Presbvterianism,  of  Independency,  or  of  Episco- 
pacy." pp.  117,  118. 

The  fundamental  principle  of  the  society  is 
not  intended  to  convey  any  such  idea  of  the 
regardlessness  of  the  parties  composing  it  of 
forms  and  modes.  It  is  intended  to  secure  and 
guarantee  the  right  of  private  judgment  to  all 
who  belong  to  it,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  Its 
object  is  to  secure  co-operation,  without  com- 
promise ; — the  most  enlarged  and  united  liber- 
ality, without  sacrifice  of  principle.  It  has 
gained  its  ohject ;  and  its  principle  is  as  invio- 
late at  this  moment  as  it  was  at  the  beginning. 
The  author  asks, — 

"  Has  not  the  society  always  invited  favor  and  aid  from 
serious  persons  of  all  denominations,  on  the  broad  and  no 
doubt  sincere  profession,  that  rffl  ohject  is  much  larger 
than  sectarianism  of  any  sort  ?  Has  it  not,  in  order  to 
win   universal   concurrence,   formally  and   solemnly   re- 


51 

nounced  the  exclusive  and  sinister  designs  of  party  ?  Has 
it  not  virtually  given  to  the  world  a  pledge  that  nothing 
should  be  done  under  its  auspices  which  might  fairly  shock 
the  peculiar  opinions  of  any  who  profess  the  same  great 
doctrine  of  salvation  ?"  p.  i  18. 

I  answer,  Yes,  it  has  done  all  this,  truly  and 
sincerely  ;  and  I  trust  the  day  is  far  distant 
when  it  shall  cease  to  act  in  this  manner,  and 
to  place  before  the  world  its  noble  and  catholic 
principle.     The  author  goes  on  — 

"  The  London  Missionary  Society  has  always,  and  with 
marked  respect,  and  even  solicitude,  invited  aid  from  the 
clergy  and  lay  members  of  the  Established  Church  ;  and 
in  so  doing  has  tacitly  acknowledged  that  there  exists  no 
such  difference  of  opinion  or  practice  between  itself  and 
them,  as  must  imply  a  forfeiture  of  consistency  on  their 
part  in  bestowing  upon  it  their  good  wishes,  their  prayers, 
their  eloquence,  and  their  money.  In  other  words,  the 
London  Missionary  Society,  as  a  body,  seeks  and  desires 
to  accomplish  nothing  among  the  heathen  which  a  con- 
sistent churchman  may  not  approve  of  and  promote. 

"  This  is  assuredly  a  truly  catholic  profession,  and  it 
were  extremely  uncandid  to  insinuate  that  there  lurks 
under  it  any  sinister  purpose  of  sectarianism  ;  or  that  it  is 
not  founded  upon  a  perfect  mutuality  of  feeling  ;  or  that 
there  exists  any  reluctance  to  follow  the  '  Fundamental 
Principle'  wherever  it  may  lead.  We  are,  I  say,  for- 
bidden to  suppose  that  the  society  would,  for  a  moment, 
hesitate  to  throw  the  whole  amount  of  its  means  into  the 
chest  of  the  Church  of  England — if  once  convinced  that, 
in  so  doing,  it  would  more  effectually  than  in  any  other 
mode,  promote  the  one  and  only  object  it  has  in  view — 
the  spread  of  the  gospel  abroad."  pp.  119,  120. 

The  society  does  not,  nor  ever  has  done  any 
thing  in  its  corporate  capacity  which  any  Chris- 
tian may  not  approve  and  promote.     No  sinister 


52 

purpose  of  sectarianism  lurks  under  its  catholic 
profession  ;  nor  is  there  any  reluctance  to  follow 
the  fundamental  principle,  wherever  it  may  lead. 
For  that  very  reason,  the  society  never  can  throw 
its  means  into  the  chest  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. It  would  then  cease  to  be  a  catholic,  and 
become  a  sectarian  society  ;  its  fundamental 
principle  being  violated,  the  society  would  be 
dissolved  ;  faith  would  be  broken  with  its  Mis- 
sionaries, and  with  all  who  have  intrusted  their 
property  to  its  management. 

We  live  in  an  age  of  enterprize  and  discovery  ; 
schemes  and  projects  of  all  sorts  are  continually 
obtruding  themselves  on  public  attention,  and 
are  advocated  with  various  ability  and  zeal. 
"The  March  of  Intellect"  we  cannot  expect 
should  confine  its  movements  to  the  arts  and 
sciences  ;  we  may  expect  to  find  it  in  religion, 
and  in  religious  projects  also.  It  is  impossible 
to  hear  daily  of  steam-ships  for  traversing  the 
seas,  of  steam-carriages  for  wheeling  along  the 
roads,  with  a  velocity  which  is  to  leave  the  wind 
behind;  of  power-looms  by  which  a  few  manu- 
factories may  supply  the  world  with  cloth  ;  and 
of  gas-works  which  furnish,  by  distillation,  a 
metropolis  with  ten  thousand  lights,  without  con- 
gratulating ourselves  that  we  live  in  such  an 
age.  The  influence  of  such  circumstances  on 
our  religious  opinions  and  reasonings,  is  likely 
to  be  considerable.  It  sets  ingenuity  and  ima- 
gination to  work.  We  become  tired  of  what  is 
old  ; — it   is   heavy,    lumbering,   unsatisfactory  ; 


53 

things  must  be  done  on  new  principles  and  on  a 
different  scale.  Hence  new  systems  of  doctrine 
— new  speculations  in  prophecy — new  schemes 
of  government,  civil  and  ecclesiastical.  Hence, 
among  other  things,  Missionary  Reform.  By 
all  means  let  us  reform  ;  but  let  it  be  on  scriptu- 
ral principles,  and  well-ascertained  experiments. 

It  is  not  long  since  Mr.  Irving  proposed  that 
every  man  should  be  his  own  society,  and  his 
own  Missionary.  He  has  only  to  take  up  his 
scrip  and  his  staff,  and  proceed,  and  the  work  of 
missionary  societies  is  done.  A  little  while  ago 
a  work  from  the  Serampore  press,  (by  Dr. 
Marshman,  I  believe,)  recommends  that  every 
church,  or  even  smaller  association,  should  send 
out  its  own  Missionary  ;  and  this  is  pressed  by 
a  variety  of  plausible  considerations,  enforced 
by  the  character  and  experience  of  the  author. 
Either  of  these  schemes  would  reduce  all  our 
societies  at  once  to  broken,  unconnected,  and 
inefficient  fragments.  Yet  each  is  supposed  to 
be  the  only  effectual  method  of  propagating  the 
gospel  all  over  the  world.  By  the  author  of  the 
"  New  Model,"  we  are  assured  that  units  are 
nothing,  that  unconnected  societies,  however 
powerful,  labor  under  fundamental  errors,  and 
that  unless  we  dissolve,  and  re-unite  in  a  grand 
episcopal  confederacy,  our  efforts  will  be  vain 
and  fruitless. 

There  is  a  portion  of  truth  mixed  up  with  a 
considerable  quantity  of  error  in  all  these  specu- 
lations.    Individuals  ought  to   do   more  than  is 


54 

generally  done  to  propagate  their  own  principles, 
independently  of  the  aids  and  connections  of 
associated  bodies  ;  — churches  ought  to  take  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  work  which  they  leave  too 
exclusively  to  general  societies.  Every  Mission- 
ary goes  out  from  some  church,  and  is  more  or 
less  connected  with  a  particular  class  of  Chris- 
tians in  some  town  or  district.  Why  do  not 
those  from  whom  he  goes  forth,  spiritually  and 
ecclesiastically,  regularly  correspond  with  him, 
encourage  him,  assist  him,  help  to  provide  for 
his  children  while  he  lives,  or  for  his  widow  and 
fatherless  children,  when  he  is  removed.  These 
are  duties  which  they  ought  not  to  leave  on  any 
society,  however  extensive  and  respectable.  All 
this  they  might  and  ought  to  do  without  dimin- 
ishing their  contributions  to  the  general  cause  ; 
and  assuredly  they  would  find  their  own  reward 
in  so  doing. 

Union  of  heart,  unity  of  plan,  and  harmony  of 
design,  ought  to  be  studied  and  cultivated  by 
every  society.  Each  should  study  the  field  which 
it  appears  most  competent  to  occupy  to  advan- 
tage. The  region,  or  district  which  is  taken 
possession  of  by  one  body,  ought  not  to  be  in- 
vaded by  another,  till  there  is  not  room  elsewhere 
to  labor.  The  occupation  of  "  another's  line  of 
things  made  ready  to  our  hands"  ought  to  be 
most  cautiously  avoided.  To  do  the  work  well, 
rather  than  soon,  should  be  the  chief  concern  ; 
and  to  be  approved  of  God,  rather  than  applauded 
by  men,  the  great  object  of  ambition.     In  vari- 


55 

ous  views  of  Dr.  Marshman,  particularly  the 
point  to  which  I  have  adverted,  I  do  not  accord. 
But  there  are  in  his  little  work,  sentiments  of 
deep  and  vital  importance  to  the  success  of  Mis- 
sionary engagements.  I  refer  here  to  the  im- 
portance which  he  attaches  to  the  connection 
between  the  piety  of  the  church  at  home,  and  of 
the  agents  abroad,  and  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
their  labors.  I  greatly  fear  this  subject  is  not 
yet  sufficiently  understood.  We  think,  perhaps, 
we  have  done  a  great  deal  when  we  have  edu- 
cated and  sent  forth  Missionaries,  and  when  we 
have  met  in  public  to  pray  for  them  ;  all  this  is 
well ;  but  it  may  all  take  place,  and  nothing  be 
effected.  It  is  not  enough  that  the  clouds  above 
are  charged  with  that  electric  fluid  which  is 
sufficient  to  shatter  every  temple  of  idolatry  to 
atoms.  There  must  be  fit  conductors  for  its 
conveyance,  or  it  will  not  explode.  There  must 
be  men  who  connect  heaven  and  earth  together 
by  their  principles  and  affinities.  The  church 
must  be  a  more  spiritual  community,  and  Mis- 
sionaries must  be  more  spiritual  men,  before  the 
divine  influence  shall  "  drop  as  the  rain,  and 
distil  as  the  dew  ;  as  small  rain  upon  the  tender 
herb,  and  as  showers  upon  the  grass."  The 
blessing  must  rest  upon  ourselves  more  exten- 
sively, before  it  rest  upon  the  heathen,  and  the 
"  fullness  of  the  Gentiles  come  in."  In  the  jus- 
tice and  importance  of  the  following  extract,  I 
most  cordially  concur,  and  I  earnestly  hope  that 
the  solemn  view  which  it  presents  of  what  now 


56 

is,  and  of  what  must  be,  before  God  can  greatly 
bless  our  efforts,  may  be  deeply  impressed  both 
on  Missionaries,  and  on  those  who  send  them. 

"  It  is  evident,  thai  without  that  holy  ao<)  Christ-like 
spirit  so  conspicuous  in  t lie  apostles,  Missionaries  would 
be  incapable  of  training  up  in  a  due  manner,  were  they 
given,  that  abundant  increase  ot  heathen  converts  for 
which  piayer  is  so  often  made.  What  could  men  under 
the  influence  of  selfishness  and  carnality  do  with  such  a 
multitude  of  converts,  who  had  the  very  image  of  Christ 
impressed  upon  their  souls?  Would  not  this  glorious 
image,  instead  of  being  preserved  in  all  its  beauty  and 
proportion  until  they  reached  the  'stature  of  a  perfect 
man  in  Christ  Jesus,'  be  possibly  disliked  as  far  too  pre- 
cise ?  In  the  present  low  standard  of  holiness  which 
almost  universally  exists,  would  it  not  in  such  converts  be 
quickly  injured  by  the  carnality,  party-spirit,  sell-love, 
vain-glory,  and  possibly  unrighteous  dealing,  they  beheld 
around  them  ?  What  mission  is  prepared  to  receive  a 
multitude  of  converts  created  anew  by  the  Spirit  of  God 
in  righteousness  and  true  holiness,  so  as  duly  to  nourish 
them  up  in  faith  and  holiness  ?  Is  it  then  any  wonder 
that  God  should  refuse,  earnestly  as  it  may  be  desired  in 
our  prayers,  to  convert  thousands  in  a  day,  when  he 
knows  how  soon  his  holy  image  in  their  hearts  would  be 
defaced  by  the  wretched,  selfish  system  which  now  passes 
for  true  holiness  among  so  many  ?  How  is  it  that  we  so 
easily  discern  wh?>tthe  Scriptures  say  respecting  doctrines 
or  modes  of  worship,  and  remain  so  blind  to  those  plain 
truths,  those  important  deductions  respecting  righteous- 
ness, true  holiness,  and  the  mind  of  Christ,  which  involve 
our  highest  personal  happiness  on  earth,  and  which  alone 
can  lead  to  the  accomplishment  of  our  highest  desires 
respecting  the  salvation  of  the  heathen  ? 

"  We  may  indeed  further  ask,  what  missionary  body  is 
prepared  to  receive  ibith  proper  feelings  the  blessings  of 
a  Pentecost,  lor  which  prayer  is  so  often  made  ?  Were 
three  thousand  Hindoos  converted  on  one  occasion,  and 


57 

five  thousand  on  another,  what  denomination  or  public 
body  would  not  find  this  an  occasion  of  sin,  either  by  its 
causing  them  to  congratulate  themselves  on  their  own 
liberality  and  wise  conduct,  were  the  blessings  given  to 
them,  or  by  its  exciting  envy  toward  those  to  whom  it 
was  given,  were  it  given  to  others  ?  We  learn  from  the 
apostle  James  that  we  may  not  merely  fail  to  receive  be- 
cause we  ask  not ;  we  may  ask  and  receive  not,  because 
we  ask  amiss,  that  we  may  consume  it  on  our  evil  desires. 
And  such  are  vain-glory,  self-complacency,  and  party- 
rivalry.  If  then  this  be  the  case,  is  it  any  wonder  that 
he  who  refused  to  deliver  Israel  by  the  hand  of  Gideon's 
thirty-two  thousand  men,  lest  Israel  should  vaunt  them- 
selves against  him  by  saying,  "  Mine  own  hand  hath 
saved  me,"  should  refuse  to  grant  a  Pentecost  to  our 
most  earnest  supplications,  until  it  will  tend  to  promote  in 
us  humility,  and  love,  and  true  holiness,  instead  of  adding 
fuel  to  our  carnality,  pride,  and  self-complacency  ?  Surely 
it  is  time  that  we  all  regarded  the  apostle's  exhortation, 
"  Brethren,  be  not  children  in  understanding;  howbeit  in 
malice  (or  evil  feeling)  be  ye  children;  but  in  under- 
standing be  men  "  And  if  our  understandings  be  duly 
exercised,  we  shall  soon  be  convinced,  that  were  the  God 
of  holiness  to  crown  with  his  presence  and  blessing  in 
the  abundant  conversion  of  the  heathen,  a  selfish,  unholy, 
or  carnal  spirit,  in  those  connected  with  missionary  efforts, 
he  must  frustrate  the  very  design  of  Christ's  death,  that 
of  saving  us  from  our  sins,  and  purifying  unto  himself  a 
peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works.  May  we  all  be 
deeply  impressed  with  what  the  Scriptures  say  on  this 
important  subject,  and  may  the  Lord  give  us  understand- 
ing in  all  things."* 

Before  concluding  this  Introduction,  which, 
unintentionally,  has  been  too  much  extended, 
I    must    intreat   the   attention   of  one    class    of 


*  Thoughts  on  propagating  Christianity  among  the  Heathen, 
pp.  14r-16. 

5 


58 

readers  in  particular  to  the  following  Letters  : 
I  refer  to  those  who  are  educating  for  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  To  excite,  direct,  and  instruct 
this  important  class  of  the  religious  community, 
so  as  to  call  forth  their  zeal  for  the  conversion 
of  the  heathen,  may  be  regarded  as  the  chief 
design  of  the  volume.  In  all  that  is  said  on  the 
topics  which  bear  on  this  point,  by  my  respected 
friend,  I  most  entirely  concur. 

It  is  melancholy  to  find,  that  while  we  are 
overstocked  with  laborers  for  the  home  service, 
there  is  still  a  great  lack  of  competent  persons 
for  the  foreign  ;  that  the  spirit  of  our  Academies 
seems  to  be  bounded  by  the  seas  which  surround 
our  island  ;  that  many  are  content  to  be  cooped 
up  in  the  narrow  enclosures  of  our  villages  and 
hamlets,  instead  of  desiring  to  expatiate  over 
the  regions  that  are  beyond  us,  crowded  with  a 
sinful  and  immortal  population  ;  that  there  are 
often  competition  and  rivalship  about  a  very 
ordinary  congregation,  but  no  striving  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  gospel  in  the  lands  of  the 
shadow  of  death.  Where  all  is  quietness  and 
assurance  and  comfort,  there  is  great  professed 
zeal  for  the  spiritual  interests  of  men  ;  but  at  the 
posts  of  danger, —  the  enterprize  of  self-denial 
and  hazard, — the  ranks  of  the  really  militant 
army  of  Christ  remain  unoccupied. 

This  state  of  things  obviously  implies  a  low 
degree  of  principle  even  among  the  ministers 
of  Christ.  I  do  not  prefer  the  charge  of 
insincerity   or  hypocrisy  ;    but   surely   there  is 


59 

reason  to  doubt  the  strength  and  ardor  of  zeal 
when  it  is  so  generally  confined  to  spheres  of 
exertion  which  call  tor  little  sacrifice,  and  ex- 
pose to  no  danger.  Let  me  intreat  my  younger 
brethren  to  reflect  on  this,  and  to  ponder  the 
reasonings  of  the  following  Letters.  Give  the 
subject  your  serious  consideration  ;  let  it  be 
matter  of  solemn  prayer  and  self  examination. 
Do  not  take  it  for  granted  you  have  no  interest 
in  it, — that  your  call  is  at  home,— that  you  have 
not  talents  or  courage  for  the  work.  Contem- 
plate the  duty  of  devoting  yourselves  to  Christ  in 
whatever  field  or  region  he  may  be  pleased  by 
his  providence  to  mark  out  for  you.  Contem- 
plate the  wants  and  woes  of  the  world,  which  is 
all  before  you  ;  presenting  an  unlimited  field  of 
labor,  and  the  fullest  excitement  and  occupation 
for  your  loftiest  ambition.  To  you  it  may  be 
given  to  plant  the  standard  of  the  cross  where 
it  has  not  before  been  reared  ;  — to  assail  and  to 
carry  fortresses  still  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  long  deemed  impregnable  ; — to  achieve  the 
conquest,  not  of  a  few  individuals,  but  of  a 
country  ; — to  break  down  the  barriers  of  a  na- 
tion's idolatry,  and  win  its  universal  homage  to 
Christ,  and  its  eternal  gratitude  to  yourselves 
as  his   instruments.      In    the    whole  compass 

OF  HUMAN  BENEVOLENCE,  THERE  IS  NOTHING 
SO    GRAND,    SO    NOBLE,   SO    CHRISTIAN,    SO    TRULY 

GODLIKE AS    THE    WORK  OF  EVANGELIZING  THE 

HEATHEN. 


LETTER    I 


ON  the  choice  of  a  missionary  life. 

My  dear  Friend, 

During  the  years  I  have  heen  a  missionary, 
various  thoughts  have  occurred  to  me  touching  the 
character,  qualifications,  motives,  duties,  trials,  &c. 
of  missionaries.  I  have  long  intended  to  offer  you 
the  result  of  my  reflections  on  such  points,  but  I 
need  not  say  what  has  hitherto  prevented  the  exe- 
cution of  my  purpose.  I  might  still  defer  it  if  I 
waited  for  a  season  of  uninterrupted  leisure  ;  but, 
availing  myself  of  such  "  remnants  of  time,"  as  I 
can  seize  in  the  course  of  a  life  of  labor,  I  com- 
mence my  observations.  I  shall  only  premise  that 
you  must  be  indulgent  to  marks  of  haste  which  you 
will  doubtless  discover  in  my  composition  ;  but  al- 
though hastily  put  together,  the  thoughts  themselves 
have  been  maturely  considered,  and  I  anticipate 
that  in  most  things  you  will  agree  with  me.  I 
pretend  not  to  any  new  or  original  views,  but 
actual  engagement  in  missionary  service  has  given 
me  a  deepened  impression  of  some  truths  generally 
admitted,  yet  not  sufficiently  weighed,  and  for  that 
reason,  often  practically  disregarded. 

I  shall  begin  with  some  remarks  on  the  choice  of 
a  missionary  life. 
5* 


(}2  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

The  ordinary  pursuits  of  mankind  present  a  defi- 
nite object  before  the  eye.  The  artizan,  the  mer- 
chant, the  lawyer,  the  physician,  the  minister  of 
religion  tread  a  beaten  path.  A  young  man  when 
he  fixes  upon  any  of  these  professions  may  form  a 
pretty  correct  estimate  of  the  duties  connected 
with  his  choice  ;  and,  generally  speaking,  his  pros- 
pects of  emolument,  respectability  and  comfort, 
are  not  difficult  to  be  ascertained.  There  is  little 
room  for  the  indulgence  of  romantic  speculation,, 
because  the  matter  is  capable  of  being  brought  to 
the  test  of  sober  calculation.  Every  town  or  dis- 
trict may  furnish  him  with  examples  of  persons  in 
the  same  walk  of  life  he  may  have  chosen,  and  thus 
he  is  put  in  possesion  of  data  for  calculating  what 
he  himself  will  have  to  be  and  to  do  in  becoming 
one  of  their  number.  But  it  is  not  so  with  the 
young  man  whose  mind  inclines  to  the  work  of  a 
missionary.  In  speculating  upon  this  subject  he 
finds  himself  at  once  beyond  the  common  means 
of  judging  of  the  duties,  trials,  advantages  and 
disadvantages  of  the  station  to  which  he  aspires. 
The  ministry  at  home  bears  but  a  very  imperfect 
analogy  to  the  undertaking  he  contemplates ;  and 
there  are'no  missionaries,  and  no  missionary  ground 
within  the  range  of  his  observation.  The  accounts 
transmitted  from  foreign  countries  where  missions 
have  been  established,  however  useful  and  impor- 
tant in  other  respects,  fall  far  short  of  the  minute- 
ness and  distinctness  of  information  which  he  finds 
necessary  to  enable  him  to  realize  the  idea  of 
being  there  and  surrounded  by  a  foreign  scenery 
and  population.  But  without  such  vivid  pictures 
of  the  localities  of  the  missionary  settlement,  he 
cannot  even  conceive  what  must  be  the  indescribable 
impression  of  being  actually  removed  from  all  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  (J3 

places  and  persons  hitherto  familiar  to  him.  Hence 
there  is  much  room  for  the  indulgence  of  imagi- 
nation, and  if  the  mind  is  strongly  biased  in  favor 
of  the  enterprize,  which  Ave  may  suppose,  under 
the  influence  of  the  best  motives,  there  will  be  a 
corresponding  tendency  to  view  every  thing  favor- 
able to  the  undertaking  with  a  partial  eye  ;  and 
on  the  other  hand  a  disposition  to  overlook  every 
discouraging  circumstance. 

For  example,  the  pain  of  being  removed  from 
beloved  friends  and  associates  will  be  thought  easily 
bearable  ;  while  the  hope  of  living  in  their  more 
endeared  remembrance,  the  anticipated  pleasure 
of  frequently  receiving  their  friendly  letters,  and 
the  means  which  may  be  enjoyed  of  gratifying 
them  in  return  by  interesting  communications,  will 
dwell  upon  the  fancy  and  make  a  separation  from 
friends,  in  such  circumstances,  appear  almost  de- 
sirable. The  biased  mind  will  in  like  manner  take 
an  encouraging,  I  may  say  a  flattering  view  of  the 
exchange  of  civilized  for  savage  society ;  a  popu- 
lation of  professing  Christians  for  a  race  of  idola- 
ters. I  do  not  here  speak  of  considerations  of  a 
higher  nature,  whose  influence  on  the  mind  of  a 
truly  devoted  man  will  bear  him  up  in  his  deter- 
minations to  pursue  an  ascertained  path  of  duty  ; 
but  I  wish  to  point  out  how  the  mind  is  subject  to 
certain  influences,  often  unobserved  and  unac- 
knowledged, which,  however,  may  go  far  in  "bring- 
ing the  individual  to  a  state  of  decided  resolution 
to  embark  in  the  cause.  A  sanguine  mind  very 
easily  disposes  of  the  difficulties  of  a  favorite  pro- 
ject, and  in  imagination  annihilates  them,  but  it 
cannot  annihilate  them  in  reality  ;  and  unless  there 
he  other  more  solid  and  more  effective  qualities  of 
mind,  the  actual  encounter  with  these  difficulties 


64  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

may  produce  effects,  little  suspected,  before   the 
trial  comes  to  be  made. 

It  may  be  said  that,  admitting  the  share  which  a 
lively  fancy,  expatiating  upon  the  unknown  scenes 
of  his  future  destination,  may  have  in  determining 
the  mind  of  one  who  contemplates  the  missionary 
work,  there  is  at  least  equal  reason  to  suppose  that 
his  mind  may  be  as  much  discouraged  by  the  pros- 
pect of  future  evils,  as  wrought  upon  by  the  hope 
of  redeeming  advantages  connected  with  the  ardu- 
ous calling.  But  T  think  there  is  reason  to  form  a 
different  conclusion  with  regard  to  most  of  those 
who  actually  become  missionaries,  and  that  not 
merely  upon  a  speculative  view  of  the  subject  as  a 
question  in  the  philosophy  of  the  mind,  but  arguing 
from  the  real  experience  of  individuals  who  have 
entered  upon  missionary  service. 

Be  it  observed,  however,  that  I  limit  the  appli- 
cation of  the  remark  now  made  to  those  who  have 
actually  become  missionaries  ;  because  I  believe 
that  many  whose  minds  have  been  agitated  by  the 
question,  whether  they  ought  personally  to  embark 
in  the  missionary  eause,  and  have  ultimately  relin- 
quished the  idea,  have  been  in  a  great  measure 
swayed  in  their  resolution  to  stay  at  home,  by  hav- 
ing their  minds  filled  with  a  gloomy  and  magni- 
fied view  of  the  privations,  &c.  of  a  missionary 
life.  But  I  conceive  that  in  such  cases  there  was 
not  the  strong  predilection  for  that  department  of 
service  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  which  ever  accom- 
panies the  true  missionary  spirit,  but  a  cold  and 
suspicious  apprehension  that  it  might  be  matter  of 
duty.  In  discussing  this  question,  therefore,  the 
subject,  possessed  of  few  attractions  in  itself  to 
such  a  mind,  is  viewed  in  the  most  unfavorable 
light ;  and  the  suggestions  of  "  flesh  and  blood"  in 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  (35 

favor  of  the  ease  and  security  and  sobriety  of  a 
life  at  home,  are  listened  to  with  approbation,  and 
carry  the  point  over  the  doubtful  plea  of  duty. 

It  appears  to  me,  therefore,  that,  generally  speak- 
ing, they  who  most  conscientiously  endeavor  to 
count  the  cost  before  leaving  their  father's  kindred 
and  their  house,  do  not  reckon  the  cost  so  great  as 
it  actually  turns  out  to  be.  They  put  an  undue  value 
upon  certain  items  of  gain,  and  omit  or  underrate 
certain  items  of  loss.  But  their  after  experience 
discovers  to  them  their  error.  I  would  by  no  means 
insinuate  that  this  discovery  must  necessarily  make 
them  repent  of  the  step  they  have  taken,  or  that 
they  do  not  find,  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  Saviour's 
promise  (Mark  x.  30.)  spiritually  considered,  an 
ample  compensation  for  all  that  they  have  left  and 
all  they  forego  ;  but  that,  had  they  known  all  cir- 
cumstances before,  as  experience  has  since  shown 
them,  they  would  have  been  more  sober  in  their  es- 
timate of  the  satisfaction  or  reward  in  the  present 
world.  And  if  they  had  not  had  faith  to  wait,  in 
the  want  of  present  recompense,  for  the  recompense 
of  reward  at  the  resurection  of  the  just,  they 
would  have  declined  the  work.  Or,  if  they  did  go 
forward  to  it,  they  would  have  done  so  with  a  more 
simple  and  sublime  faith,  a  higher  elevation  of  aim 
and  desire,  a  spirit  of  more  entire  consecration  to 
the  work,  "  not  counting  their  lives  dear  unto 
them."  This  I  take  to  be  the  precise  effect  which 
the  discovery  of  the  real  nature  of  his  under- 
taking, at  whatever  stage  of  it  this  discovery  is 
made,  produces  on  the  heart  of  the  true  missionary  ; 
and  that  thus  his  motives  and  aims  are  acquiring  a 
superior  purity  and  heavenliness  as  he  advances  in 
his  career  of  labor  and  tribulation. 

I  have  supposed  that  a  young  man  may  picture 


fi6  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

to  himself  such  a  scene  of  missionary  labor  and 
success,  that  he  will  be  ready  to  quit  every  thing 
dear  to  him  in  the  world  to  realize  it.  This  may 
be  in  connection  with  the  purest  motives.  The 
work  he  chooses  is  most  honorable  and  praise- 
worthy. The  enjoyments  he  anticipates  are  holy 
and  exalted.  He  reckons  upon  finding  them  in 
the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  servant  of 
Christ.  He  will  take  delight  in  devising  methods 
to  rouse  the  attention  and  gain  the  affection  of  the 
natives.  He  will  cheerfully  adopt  their  manners 
and  customs,  so  far  as  he  innocently  may,  and  so 
far  as  may  conduce  to  their  favorable  opinion  of 
him,  or  appear  likely  to  promote  the  success  of  his 
work  among  them.  He  will  anticipate  with  rap- 
ture their  becoming  interested  in  the  message  of 
mercy,  "  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy"  he  pub- 
lishes among  them  ;  he  will  teach  them  to  read  in 
their  own  tongue  the  wonderful  works  of  God. 
He  will  train  them  up  for  heaven,  and  walk  before 
them  in  the  way  to  it.  Temporal  good  things, 
sensual  and  even  intellectual  enjoyments,  hold  a 
very  inferior  place  in  his  regard,  while  he  bars  his 
mind  against  the  very  thought  of  seeking  pleasure 
in  the  ways  of  sin.  In  a  word,  he  promises  himself 
much  personal  enjoyment  in  his  work,  and  a  rich 
reward  in  the  success  of  it. 

But  it  is  obvious,  that  if  a  man  contemplates  the 
subject  in  this  light,  he  is  making  self-gratification 
the  hinge  on  which  the  whole  scheme  turns.  Not 
that  the  idea  of  personal  enjoyment  is  to  be  utterly 
excluded,  but  it  must  not  be  made  the  swaying 
consideration:  If  nobler  views,  and  more  dis- 
interested motives,  have  not  brought  the  mind 
to  the  state  of  being  made  up  upon  the  subject, 
and  determine  it  in  favor  of  the  missionary  work 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  67 

happen  what  may,  there  is  reason  to  fear  that, 
when  the  scheme  of  self-gratification  turns  out  to 
be  a  life  of  self-denial — of  man}?-  temptations  from 
■without  and  from  within — a  life  of  many  hin- 
drances and  few  aids  to  self- improvement,  and 
withal,  not  rewarded  with  the  anticipated  success 
in  the  work,  while  year  after  year  rolls  away ; 
the  disappointment  may,  if  the  grace  of  God  pre- 
vent not,  turn  the  work  entered  upon  with  glowing 
zeal  and  raised  expectation,  into  an  intolerable 
burden,  and  leave  the  unhappy  laborer  to  drag 
it  on  with  Aveariness,  if  he  does  not  altogether 
relinquish  it  in  disgust. 

In  the  case  now  supposed,  there  may  have  been 
a  degree  of  sincerity  of  heart,  and  purity  of  mo- 
tive, along  with  the  admixture  of  selfish  views  ; 
but  it  is  not  difficult  to  conceive,  that  the  situation 
of  a  missionary  in  a  foreign  country,  may  appear  a 
desirable  thing  to  persons  who  possess  neither  the 
spirit  nor  qualifications  of  a  true  missionary.  It 
may  appear  so  to  men  dissatisfied  with  their  situ- 
ations and  prospects  at  home,  or  actuated  by 
the  love  of  novelty,  or  possessed  of  a  desire  to  see 
and  know  the  world,  or  carried  away  by  a  vain 
ambition  of  distinction,  and  getting  a  name.  Such 
men  may  find  in  the  project  of  becoming  mission- 
aries, something  highly  calculated  to  please  the 
imagination.  And  it  must  be  allowed,  that  persons 
who  embark  in  the  holy  cause  of  missions,  in  such 
a  spirit,  may  have  their  reward — the  reward  they 
seek — but  the  reward  of  the  "  good  and  faithful 
servant,"  as  they  neither  seek  nor  earn,  they  shall 
not  obtain.  Let  us  endeavor  to  trace  the  pro- 
gress of  an  individual,  actuated  by  any  of  the 
base  principles  now  mentioned — destitute  of  the 
spirit  of  the  office  to  which  he  aspires.     In  the 


68  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

first  instance,  he  overcomes  obstacles  and  diffi- 
culties that  stand  in  the  way  of  the  accomplish- 
ment of  his  wishes.  His  resolution  and  apparent 
devotedness  may  gain  him  the  favorable  opinion 
of  Christian  friends.  The  very  circumstance  of 
his  professed  desire  to  engage  in  the  service  of 
God  among  the  heathen,  an  undertaking  so  ar- 
duous, that  many  truly  devoted  men  have  shrunk 
back  from  its  difficulties  and  dangers — produces 
an  impression  in  his  favor  among  religious  people 
— their  charity  teaches  them  in  this  case  to  hope 
all  things.  A  good  report  of  him  is  carried  to  the 
directors  of  a  missionary  society,  along  with  the 
offer  of  his  services.  He  is  accepted  as  a  can- 
didate, passes  the  time  of  preparatory  study,  and 
finally  is  sent  abroad. 

The  degree  of  respect  and  affection  which  fall 
to  the  share  of  a  minister  at  home,  will  just  be  in 
proportion  to  the  zeal,  and  fidelity,  and  ability 
with  which  he  performs  the  high  duties  of  his 
station.  An  inconsistent,  idle,  unqualified  minis- 
ter, cannot  hide  his  true  character,  and  he  will 
hot  long  stand  higher  in  the  public  estimation 
than  he  ought.  It  is  in  the  power  of  adventitious 
circumstances  to  give  a  momentary  distinction, 
but  not  to  confer  a  lasting  fame  ;  and  for  this 
plain  reason,  that  the  man  acts  his  part  in  the 
midst  of  a  people  qualified  to  distinguish  things 
that  differ,  for  the  Bible  has  taught  them  what 
a  Christian  and  a  Christian  minister  ought  to  be. 
Besides,  his  character  is  brought  into  immediate 
comparison  with  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and 
his  proper  place  is  assigned  him  accordingly.  But 
the  case  is  very  different,  it  may  be,  with  our 
missionary.  His  residence  may  be  in  a  country 
where  he  is  not  exposed  to  the  view  of  a  Christian 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  69 

community.  He  is  therefore  left  without  the  en- 
couragement to  zeal  and  diligence  in  his  appro- 
priate work,  which  the  stimulating  presence  of 
brethren  might  afford ;  and  at  the  same  time, 
beyond  the  salutary  restraint  of  being  under  the 
eye  of  them  who  would  watch  over  him  with 
jealous  care,  lest  he  should  be  drawn  aside,  either 
in  spirit  or  conduct,  from  the  good  ways  of  the 
Lord  ;  lest  he  should  grow  slack  in  the  service  to 
which  he  has  vowed  the  consecration  of  his  time, 
and  talents,  and  heart,  and  all ;  lest  he  should 
learn  the  ways  of  the  heathen,  and  bring  reproach 
on  the  name  of  Christ.  In  such  a  situation,  a 
truly  devoted  servant  of  God  will  walk  with  "fear 
and  trembling."  Knowing  his  own  weakness, 
and  not  ignorant  of  the  deceitful ness  of  his  own 
heart,  and  the  devices  of  Satan,  there  will  seem  a 
double  urgency  in  the  call  to  him  to  "  watch  and 
pray,  lest  he  enter  into  temptation."  But  if  we 
follow  an  individual  of  an  improper  character,  such 
as  we  are  here  supposing,  into  a  distant  scene 
of  labor,  remote  from  the  view  of  all  whose 
presence  might  be  a  spur  to  good,  and  a  check  to 
evil,  it  is  easy  to  conceive  the  almost  certain  con- 
sequence ;  at  liberty  to  think  his  own  thoughts, 
and  speak  his  own  words,  and  do  his  own  deeds, 
and  that  for  a  long  season  ;  while  there  are  no 
means  of  his  friends  or  constituents  ascertaining 
the  true  state  of  matters,  his  real  character  may 
remain  long  undiscovered  and  unsuspected.  His 
unconscious  waste  of  time — his  engagement  in 
pursuits  foreign  to  his  proper  work — his  deviations 
from  sobriety,  and  dignity,  and  consistency  of  con- 
duct— his  dereliction  of  principle,  and  utter  breach 
of  his  most  solemn  engagements,  are  never  known 
and  never  heard  of,  because  he  will  not  criminate 
6 


70  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

himself,  and  he  is  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  obser* 
vation  of  his  brethren.  With  all  this?,  there  may  be 
such  a  measure  of  attention  paid  to  the  language 
of  the  country,  and  to  the  duty  of  holding  occasional 
intercourse  with  the  natives,  as  will  furnish  matter 
for  an  occasional  letter,  for  the  satisfaction  of  those 
at  home,  whom  it  may  be  his  interest  to  please. 
He  may  find  it  no  difficult  matter  to  keep  on  good 
terms  with  his  constituents,  and  delude  them  with 
the  vain  idea  that  he  is  laboring  faithfully  and 
successfully  to  disseminate  the  gospel  among  his 
heathen  charge,  while  he  is  leaving  them  without 
the  smallest  concern,  and,  as  yet,  without  remorse, 
to  their  wicked  delusions. 

The  case  is  in  some  respects,  but  not  essentially, 
altered,  where  there  are  several  laborers  together, 
and  one  such  character  among  them.  There  must 
here  be  more  circumspection,  more  care  to  preserve 
appearances.  But  as  it  is  generally  found  con- 
ducive to  the  furtherance  of  the  work,  and  most 
suited  to  the  variety  of  taste  and  qualification  in  a 
body  of  missionaries  to  make  a  division  of  labor, 
each  in  his  own  department  is  thus-  rendered  more 
independent,  and  left  more  at  liberty.  And  in  the 
supposed  case  of  an  unfaithful  member  of  a  mission- 
ary establishment,  there  is  more  room  for  the  prac^ 
tice  of  hypocrisy,  and  less  liability  of  suspicion  ; 
while  delicacy,  and  the  spirit  of  forbearance,  and 
hope  of  amendment,  and  charitable  allowance  for 
peculiarity  of  natural  disposition,  &c.r  may  make 
his  brethren  very  tender  of  exposing  one  whose 
improprieties  cannot  escape  their  notice.  The 
truth  is,  a  Judas  may  remain  undetected  for 
years  among  his  brethren  and  fellow  laborers. 
And  who  can  say  but  there  may  be  traitors  who 
sell  their  Master  and  the  souls  of  men  for  a  piece 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  71 

of  money,  and  yet  live  unsuspected,  and  pass  off 
the  stao-e  with  a  fair  reputation  !  The  supposition 
is  awfully  alarming- ;  but  the  use  to  be  made  of  the 
observations  offered  in  this  letter,  must  be  reserved 
for  the  subject  of  my  next. 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTER   II. 

THE    SAME    SUBJECT    CONTINUED. 

My  dear  Friend, 

The  promised  sequel  to  the  observations  con- 
tained in  my  last  letter,  I  now  proceed  to  lay 
before  you. 

If  other  motives  than  those  which  ought  to 
actuate  the  mind,  may  impel  men  to  offer  them- 
selves for  missionary  service;  and  if  such  persons 
may  succeed  in  obtaining  the  sanction  of  societies, 
be  appointed  to  fields  of  labor,  and  occupy  them 
to  their  own  hurt,  and  the  injury  of  many — the 
subject  demands  the  solemn  consideration  of  all 
whom  it  in  any  way  concerns. 

In  secular  business,  though  principle  is  ever  re- 
garded as  of  the  highest  value,  yet  it  is  possible 
for  a  servant  influenced  merely  by  considerations 
of  interest,  expediency,  or  necessity,  to  perform 
his  work  with  as  much  credit  to  himself,  and 
satisfaction  to  his  master,  as  if  he  had  been  ac- 
tuated by  the  most  honorable  and  conscientious 
motives  in  every  iota  of  the  service  required  of 
him.     But  in  this  sacred  employment  the  case  is 


72  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

otherwise.  Nothing-  can  compensate  for  the  want 
of  a  heart  in  the  work — a  heart  right  with  God, 
in  simplicity  and  sincerity  devoting  itself  to  him 
and  to  his  service. 

The  first  and  obvious  deduction  from  this  is  a 
warning  to  missionaries  and  missionary  candidates 
themselves.  Its  language  to  them  is — "  Look  well 
to  your  motives — sift  them  to  the  bottom,  and  be 
not  satisfied,  although  you  think  there  be  found 
'  some  good  thing'  in  you,  among  much  that  is 
not  so  :  separate  the  precious  from  the  vile,  and 
try  how  far  such  views  and  motives,  as  have  the 
sanction  of  the  word  of  God,  influence  you,  inde- 
pendently of  all  other  considerations." 

The  conduct  which  flows  from  wrong  principles 
of  action,  although  others  may  admire  and  extol 
it,  conscience  will  pronounce  to  be  destitute  of  all 
moral  worth,  and  anticipate  the  sentence  of  con- 
demnation God  will  at  last  utter  alike  against  open 
transgression  and  feigned  obedience. 

Moreover,  as  there  may  be,  and  most  commonly 
is,  a  mixture  of  motives  to  be  discovered,  when  we 
enter  upon  the  difficult  search  of  the  secret  springs 
of  our  conduct,  it  is  a  matter  of  the  first  impor- 
tance, to  ascertain  what  share  right  motives  have 
in  leading  to  any  particular  act  or  course  of  action. 
The  primary  motive  in  the  case  of  missionary  ser- 
vice must  be  a  sense  of  duty,  entertained  by  a 
mind  which  approves,  and  chooses,  and  delights 
in  the  great  end  to  which  that  duty  points — the 
glory  of  God.  Let  the  man  then  who  "  desires" 
the  "  good  work,"  endeavor  to  ascertain  how  far 
he  is  actuated  by  a  regard  to  the  command  and 
authority  of  God.  Let  him  further  inquire  with 
what  complacency  the  mind  entertains  the  con- 
viction  of  duty :  in   other    words,   whether   he   is 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  73 

brought  to  love  the  service,  and  rejoice  in  it,  as  the 
way  in  which  God  is  pleased  to  give  him  the 
happy  privilege  and  opportunity  of  glorifying  his 
name,  and  fulfilling  his  blessed  will. 

Were  I  further  to  address  such  an  one,  I  would 
say — "  If  you  have  reason  to  conclude  that  the 
command  to  go  and  preach  the  gospel  is  imperative 
upon  you  as  an  individual,  it  is  then  with  you 
a  simple  question  of  obedience  to  God.  You 
must  acknowledge  his  authority  by  yielding  obe- 
dience to  his  command,  otherwise  you  are  self- 
condemned  as  a  transgressor.  I  speak  not  of  the 
means  of  ascertaining  your  call ;  but  supposing 
that  point  to  be  settfed,  and  that  you  are  satisfied 
in  your  own  mind,  that  it  is  your  duty  to  embark 
personally  in  the  missionary  cause,  you  cannot 
refuse  to  act  upon  the  conviction,  without  forfeiting 
your  title  to  the  character  of  one  who  is  '  following 
the  Lord  fully.'" 

Were  it  not  that  I  consider  self-deception  here 
to  be  very  dangerous,  and  the  danger  of  being  so 
deceived  very  great,  I  would  not  think  it  necessary 
to  pursue  this  subject  farther,  but  allow  it  to  be 
taken  for  granted,  that  when  the  call  of  duty  is 
obeyed,  we  have  nothing  more  to  do  but  to  con- 
gratulate the  individual  upon  such  a  proof  of  his 
subjection  to  divine  authority,  and  of  his  conquest 
over  the  appetites,  or  habits,  or  desires,  that  may 
have  opposed  his  obedience. 

When  I  consider  the  difficulty  attending  all 
investigations  into  the'  Operations  of  our  own 
minds,  and  the  proneness  of  all  to  judge  favor- 
ably in  their  own  case,  it  occurs  to  me  that  there 
may  be  persons  who  take  credit  to  themselves  for 
acting  under  the  influence  of  motives  derived  from 
the  authority  of  God,  and  their  duty  to  him  and 
6* 


74  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

to  their  fellow  men,  while  in  reality,  other  con1 
siderations  unattended  to  or  unavowed,  in  a  great 
measure  actuate  them.  They  acknowledge  in 
words,  it  is  true,  the  authority  of  God,  and  seem 
also  practically  to  acknowledge  it ;  but  after  all, 
the  obedience  may  not  flow  from  regard  to  the 
command,  but  because  the  performance  of  the  duty 
is,  on  other  grounds,  pleasant  or  profitable.  Now, 
since  partiality  in  judging  of  ourselves  always 
inclines  us  to  put  the  best  construction  both  upon 
our  outward  actions  and  inward  motives,  we 
cannot  be  too  suspicious  of  ourselves  ; — we  can 
scarcely  err  in  the  way  of  too  much  severity,  and 
should  we  ever  do  so,  the  evil  of  the  error  would 
not  be  so  great  on  that  side  as  on  this. 

To  trace  the  subject  a  little  farther  then.  Sup- 
pose that,  in  pursuance  of  the  command  to  preach 
the  gospel,  considered  as  imperative  upon  an  in- 
dividual, and  pointing  in  his  case  to  the  duty  of 
going  as  a  missionary  to  the  heathen,  he  takes 
steps  in  the  matter  accordingly,  and  actually  sets 
about  the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose,  there  is 
still  room  for  self-jealousy,  for  even  in  this  case 
there  may  be  something  "  lacking,''  and  some- 
thing wrong.  The  thing  itself  is  commanded,  and 
an  acknowledged  duty,  and  yet  the  motive  and  man- 
ner of  performing  it  may  be  such  as  to  render  it, 
instead  of  an  acceptable  service  to  God,  an  abomi- 
nation in  his  sight.  That  the  authority  of  God  is 
acknowledged  is  so  far  well — that  the  thing  com- 
manded is  performed  as  well — but  after  all,  the 
spirit  put  into  the  actual  performance  may  be  no 
better  than  that  of  a  slave.  The  command  must 
be  obeyed  "  from  the  heart :" — the  service  must 
be  a  free-will  offering  ;  it  must  be  a  sacrifice  of 
love  and  glad  acknowledgment  of  the   mercy   of 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  75 

God,  who  has  conferred  the  ability,  and  oppor- 
tunity, and  grace,  to  render  back  to  him  of  that 
which  has  been  received  from  him.  The  command 
to  "  feed  the  flock  of  God,"  and  to  gather  in  the 
wandering  sheep,  must  be  performed  in  the  manner 
required,  "  taking  the  oversight  thereof,  not  by  con- 
straint,but  willingly — not  for  filthy  lueret  but  of  a 
rea  ly  miaJ." 

If  there  be  not  this  willing  spirit  which  is 
so  emphatically  pronounced  to  be  an  essential 
requisite  to  acceptable  obedience ;  if  the  higher 
and  purer  motives  fail  to  operate  with  commanding 
energy,  and  the  individual  nevertheless  profess 
himself  to  be  impelled  forward  to  the  performance 
of  the  duty,  there  is  reason  to  suspect  that  some 
latent  and  unacknowledged  motive  is  in  operation 
to  which  his  conduct  is  to  be  traced.  His  mind 
in  this  case  probably  has  recourse  to  some  bye 
consideration,  which  urges  it  on,  and  bears  it  up, 
under  the  weight  of  the  contemplated  work. 
Some  flattering  scheme  of  present  profit  or  plea- 
sure may  be  holden  under  the  self-denying  garb 
of  a  missionary,  and  the  desire  of  fame,  or  the 
love  of  knowledge,  may  become  the  succedaneum 
for  the  general  principles  of  love  to  God  and 
man. 

I  repeat  it,  that  even  where  there  is  a  professed 
practical  acknowledgment  of  the  imperious  obli- 
gation to  obey  the  command  of  God,  there  may 
be  the  absence  of  that  love  which  is  the  animating 
spirit  of  true  obedience  ;  and  if  love  be  wanting, 
the  obedience  is  a  dead  work.  Surely  then  it 
becomes  all  who  aspire  to  the  missionary  charac- 
ter, to  bring  the  hidden  springs  of  their  actions  to 
the  severest  test — to  subject  the  secret  and  often 
unobserved  motions  of  the  heart  to  a  rigid  scrutiny. 


76  LETTERS  ON  xMISSIONS. 

If  they  cannot  endure  this  trial,  "  how  shall  they 
abide  the  judgment  of  God  ?  for  if  our  heart 
condemn  us,  God  is  greater  than  our  heart,  and 
knoweth  all  things — if  our  heart  condemn  us  not, 
then  have  we  confidence  towards  God."  In  a 
word,  our  duty  to  God  and  man  are  involved 
in  the  question  of  disseminating  the  gospel ;  but 
we  cannot  discharge  that  duty,  unless  the  love  of 
God  and  man  warm  our  bosoms,  and  put  spirit 
and  life  into  our  obedience.  "  The  love  of  Christ 
eonstraineth  us;  because  we  thus  judge,  that  if 
one  died  for  all,  then  were  all  dead,  and  that  he 
died  for  all,  that  they  which  live  should  not 
henceforth  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  who 
died  for  them  and  rose  again."  Unless  thus  in- 
fluenced, thus  "  constrained,"  and  carried  beyond 
the  base  and  selfish  considerations  of  the  hireling, 
the  vain  pretences  of  the  hypocrite,  and  the  dreams 
of  the  enthusaist,  there  can  be  no  faithful  and 
persevering  devotement  of  a  man's  all  to  the  mis- 
sionary work.  When  God  says,  "  Whom  shall  I 
send  ?" — and  when  in  the  spirit  of  loAvly  and  trem- 
bling, but  willing  consecration,  a  man  can  say, 
"Here  am  I,  send  me  ;" — then  and  then  only  does 
he  "  present  himself  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  accept- 
able unto  God,  which  is  his  reasonable  service." 

It  is  scarcely  supposable,  that  a  mind  can  be 
so  far  enlightened  on  the  subject  of  duty,  and  so  far 
under  the  influence  of  principle,  as  to  act  in  obe- 
dience to  a  given  command,  conscientiously  ful- 
filling it  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  yet  be  destitute 
of  the  other  principles  requisite  to  render  that 
obedience  such  as  God  can  approve.  And  there- 
fore I  think  the  true  explanation  of  the  subject 
is  that  which  is  above  suggested,  namely — that 
where  there  is  obedience  to  the  command,  with- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  77 

out  love  to  the  duty,  and  him  who  commanded 
it,  the  principle  of  action  is  some  base  or  selfish 
consideration ;  and  that  the  taking  credit  for  a 
conscientious  regard  to  the  authority  of  God,  as 
the  grand  actuating  motive  in  pursuing  that  course 
of  obedience,  is  mere  self-delusion  or  detestable 
hypocrisy. 

At  the  same  time,  in  regard  to  a  duty  so  plainly 
enjoined,  as  that  of  preaching  the  gospel — L  e. 
publishing  it  through  the  whole  world — a  duty 
implied  in  the  very  nature  of  Christianity,  there 
must  be  multitudes  of  professing  Christians,  who, 
if  they  think  of  the  matter  at  all,  must  be  visited 
with  many  compunctious  thoughts  as  to  their 
neglect  of  it.  Acknowledging  the  paramount 
obligation  that  lies  upon  every  Christian  to  do 
all  that  his  most  zealous  and  persevering  exer- 
tions can  accomplish  in  this  work,  the  hearts  of 
many  must  accuse  them  of  supineness,  idleness, 
lukewarmness,  want  of  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God, 
want  of  practical  love  to  their  Saviour,  want  of 
compassion  for  the  souls  of  men,  want  of  con- 
sistency with  their  profession.  In  the  case  of 
young  men  of  education  and  talents  who  have 
enrolled  their  names  and  taken  their  place  among 
the  disciples  of  Christ,  there  must  be  either  great 
dimness  of  sight,  or  a  wilful  shutting  of  the  eyes, 
if  a  command  so  legible  is  not  perceived ;  they 
must  employ  much  unsound  carnal  logic  with 
themselves,  before  they  .can  reconcile  it  with 
conscience  and  duty  to  stay  at  home,  while  the 
cries  of  hundreds  of  millions  of  heathen  are  ring- 
ing in  their  ears.  They  must  have  many  mis- 
givings of  heart.  They  often  are — they  must  be 
impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  duty  required  of 
them;  and  some,  I  believe,  unable   to  shake   off 


78  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

their  convictions,  find  no  alternative  left  but  to 
act  in  obedience  to  them,  or  lose  a  good  con- 
science. It  is  surely  possible  to  conceive  of  con- 
viction of  duty  being  very  unwelcome — of  the 
mind  resisting  it — and  when  it  can  resist  no  longer, 
yielding  a  constrained  and  unwilling  obedience. 
In  this  state  of  mind,  other  views  and  consider- 
ations of  a  selfish  character  may  present  themselves 
as  encouragements  to  proceed  in  the  course  duty 
points  out ;  but  so  far  as  proper  principle  is  con- 
cerned, the  man  goes  forth  to  the  work  as  a  con- 
vict to  banishment — reluctant  to  go,  but  unable  to 
escape  ;  and  deriving  consolation  only  from  the 
hope,  that  in  the  land  of  his  exile  he  may  find 
some  alleviation  of  his  misery  in  the  pleasures  of 
the  place,  or  in  occupations  capable  of  diverting 
his  mind  and  shortening  the  time. 

I  have  supposed  an  extreme  case,  and  perhaps 
this  illustration  is  too  harsh  ;  but  I  wished  to  show 
how  a  mixture  of  motives  mars  the  character  of 
the  obedience,  and  turns  what  ought  to  be  a 
willing  and  cheerful  service,  into  a  hated  task. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  history  of  a  man's 
secret  cogitations — struggle  with  conviction — ■ 
collision  of  motives — opposition  between  inclina- 
tion and  duty — the  conduct  he  ultimately  pursues 
must  be  pleasing  or  displeasing  in  the  sight  of  God, 
according  to  the  principles  which  form  the  secret 
springs  of  that  conduct.  If  the  main  spring  be  what 
it  ought  to  be,  the  existence  of  other  feelings  and 
considerations,  not  wrong  in  themselves  (and  when 
under  proper  regulation,  even  commendable),  will 
not  defile  the  offering.  For  instance,  a  man  under 
the  influence  of  tSe  highest  motives  in  the  mission- 
ary work,  may  derive  iarther  encouragement  in  the 
prospect  of  it,  or  when  actually  engaged  in  it,  from 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  79 

the  reflection  that  it  is  a  calling  congenial  to  his 
taste,  favorable  to  his  own  spiritual  progress,  and 
offering  many  innocent  gratifications  to  an  intelli- 
gent mind.  But  if  these  and  other  subordinate 
considerations  occupy  the  first  place  in  his  view  of 
the  work,  and  degrade  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God, 
and  the  salvation  of  men,  to  the  rank  of  inferior 
motives — there  is  utterly  a  fault  in  that  mind.  If 
self-interest,  self-seeking,  self-gratification,  conduct 
the  enterprize,  while  love,  and  zeal,  and  obedience, 
or  the  shadows  of  therri,  follow  at  a  humble 
distance  in  their  train,  is  not  the  whole  rather 
an  offering  at  the  shrine  of  human  vanity,  than  a 
sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  God  ?  I  have  said  enough 
to  show  that  such  service  cannot  be  a  "holy  accept- 
able sacrifice  unto  God" — such  labors  cannot  be 
"unto  God  a  sweet  savor  of  Christ."  Nor  is  this 
all,  the  service  itself,  even  outwardly  considered, 
will  be  but  a  cold,  indifferent,  negligent,  undevout, 
formal  work  ;  for  as  self  is  the  chief  mover,  whatever 
degree  or  kind  of  service  is  contrary  to  the  interests 
or  inclinations  of  self  will  be  neglected.  Instead  of 
everything  giving  way  before  the  energy  of  a  mind 
seeking  not  its  own  things  but  the  things  of  Christ, 
there  will  be  all  the  vacillancy  and  weakness  of  a 
man  attempting  to  serve  two  masters.  His  spirit 
will  not  be  that  of  love  and  power,  and  of  a  sound 
mind,  but  of  fear  and  weakness  and  foolishness. 
How  wide  a  difference  between  the  faithful  and  the 
false  missionary  !  The  one  is  seeking  his  own  glory, 
the  other,  like  his  divine  Master  and  pattern,  the 
glory  of  Him  that  sent  him.  This  becomes  the 
simple  and  elevating  principle  of  action,  and  every 
thought  is  subordinated  to  its  influence. 

I  need  not  have  been  so  prolix  upon  a  point  so 
obvious  as  the  worthlessness  of  all  obedience  which. 


80  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

springs  not  from  the  love  of  God  and  regard  to 
his  authority ;  but  the  intricacy  of  the  subject  of 
motives  and  principles  of  action  which  I  have  been 
led  to  touch  upon,  in  its  application  to  missionary 
undertakings,  has  obliged  me  to  multiply  words, 
but  whether  to  your  satisfaction  I  have  some 
doubts.  I  have  felt  my  own  inadequacy  in  attempt- 
ing to  investigate  some  of  the  operations  of  that 
mystery  of  iniquity — the  human  heart;  but  that 
it  is  such  a  mystery  of  iniquity  even  in  the  case 
of  those  who  are  in  part  renewed  in  the  spirit 
of  their  minds,  is  the  strongest  possible  reason  to 
be  jealous  of  it  and  strict  in  examining  it,  and  this 
is  in  one  word  the  sum  and  scope  of  the  reiterated 
admonitions  scattered  over  these  pages. 


LETTER   III. 

MISSIONARY     QUALIFICATIONS. 

My  dear  Friend, 

How  shall  I  speak  of  the  qualifications  of 
missionaries.  It  would  be  easy  to  string  together  a 
number  of  epithets,  such  as  pious,  zealous,  persever- 
ing, self-denied,  overflowing  with  love  to  God  and 
man,  &c.  and  so  dress  up  a  character  of  unqualified 
Christian  perfection,  unlike  any  specimen  of  human 
nature  ever  beheld.  Upon  any  one  who  might  be 
desiring  the  office  of  a  missionary,  and  who  might 
attempt  with  fear  and  trembling  to  compare  his 
own  attainments  with  such  a  picture  of  an  ideal 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  81 

missionary,  the  contemplation  of  it  could  have  no 
other  effect  than  to  drive  him  to  despair  ;  unless 
he  ventured  to  question  the  skill  or  the  authority 
of  the  painter  who  formed  an  abstraction  of  his 
own,  instead  of  copying  from  the  life.  While  upon 
the  mind  of  another  aspirant  to  missionary  service, 
a  young  mm  made  up  of  self-ignorance  and  pre- 
sumption, the  opposite  effect  would  be  produced  ; 
for  in  beholding  this  portrait  of  a  missionary,  he 
would  fancy  he  was  looking  in  a  mirror  and  behold- 
ing the  image  of  himself.* 

I  shall  endeavor  to  avoid  the  evil  referred  to,  and 
exhibit  the  missionary  as  a  man. 

That  man  must  in  the  first  place  be  a  Christian, 
a  true  believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  But  the 
converse  of  the  proposition  will  not  hold.  Every 
missionary  must  be  a  Christian,  but  every  Christian 
is  not  fit  to  be  a  missionary.  This  obvious  remark 
opens  to  us  a  very  important  view  of  the  missionary 
character.  The  missionary  must  be  a  Christian 
distinguished  by  certain  qualifications  not  possessed 
by  all,  and  in  fact  which  few  possess  in  an  eminent 
degree. 

He  ought  to  be  a  superior  man,  both  morally  and 
intellectually  ;  one  whom  the  God  of  nature  has 
adorned  with  superior  gifts  ;  upon  whom  the  God 
of  salvation  has  bestowed  a  rich  measure  of  grace. 
But  I  must  descend  to  particulars. 

In  attempting  to  delineate  the  character  of  one 
who  bids  fair  to  become  a  useful  missionary,  I  shall 
do  it  under  the  idea  that  he  is  a  young  man — not 

*  Care  must  be  taken,  however,  to  exhibit  the  character  in 
question,  as  something-  more  than  what  may  suit  a  common 
every-riay  profession  of  Christianity.  If  the  missionary  is  not 
all  perfection,  neither  is  he  ail  delect. 

7 


82  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

that  this  is  essential,   but  because  it  will  better 
accord  with  the  generality  of  cases  that  occur. 

In  a  circle  of  religious  young  men,  is  there  one 
distinguished  among  his  fellows  for  deep  and  fer- 
vent piety,  one  who  has  learned  under  the  Divine 
Teacher  much  of  his  Bible  and  much  of  his  own 
heart,  and  who  is  still  sitting  with  humility  and 
love  at  the  same  Teacher's  feet?  This  is  the  in- 
dividual upon  whom  we  are  to  fix  our  eyes,  and  if 
upon  further  examination  other  requisites  be  found 
in  him,  he  will  be  the  missionary.  We  proceed 
to  inquire  then,  Does  his  character  brightly  re- 
flect the  image  of  Christ  ?  Has  he  decidedly  come 
out  from  the  world  ?  Are  the  people  of  God  his 
chosen  associates  ?  Does  he,  before  all,  firmly  and 
consistently  avow  his  Christian  profession,  showing 
that  he  loves  Christ  more  than  father  or  mother, 
sister  or  brother;  yet  does  he  with  all  the  meek- 
ness and  gentleness  of  Christ,  behave  towards 
them  as  a  dutiful  and  loving  son  and  brother?  Is 
he  the  foremost  among  his  companions  in  devising 
and  executing  plans  of  usefulness,  and  yet  willing 
to  take  the  meanest  place,  proving  that  he  is 
seeking  more  to  do  good  than  to  be  known  as  the 
doer  of  it?  Does  he  shine  more  in  the  eyes  of 
others  than  in  his  own  ?  Do  truth  and  goodness  and 
love  appear  to  form  his  unaffected  character — not 
the    dress    he    assumes    on    particular    occasions, 

but    his    every    day    ordinary    apparel and    for 

blamelessness,  sobriety,  and  all  that  even  the  world 
esteems  pure,  lovely,  and  of  good  report,  has  he  the 
testimony  of  them  that  are  without?  If  these 
things  be  so,  if  the  streams  be  so  pure  and  sweet, 
we  may  infer  that  the  fountain  whence  they  flow 
has  been  cleansed.  But  this  is  not  to  be  taken 
for  granted — we  must  examine  the  state  of  the 
fountain  that  feeds  these  streams. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  83 

It  is  especially  necessary,  that  he  who  is  to  be 
a  teacher  of  others  should  be  sound  in  the  faith 
himself.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  draw  up  a  scheme 
of  the  truths  of  revelation,  the  belief  of  which  I 
consider  as  constituting  soundness  in  the  faith  ;  for 
in  that  case  I  should  be  merely  presenting  you 
with  my  own  theological  system.  Upon  points  of 
indifference,  and  matters  wrapt  in  a  veil  of  ob- 
scurity, there  have  been,  and  probably  will  be  to 
the  end,  differences  of  opinion  ;  but  all  who  are 
"  taught  of  God,"  hold  substantially  the  same 
views  of  the  great  fundamental  truths  of  revelation. 
These  our  young  probationer  must  understand,  and 
believe,  and  feel  in  their  heavenly  and  transform- 
ing influence.  We  have  supposed  his  character  to 
be  adorned  with  the  lovely  fruits  of  righteousness  ; 
here  we  see  the  cause  of  his  fruitfulness.  He  is  a 
tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water ; — his  root  is 
nourished  in  secret  by  the  river  of  the  water  of 
life  ; — he  is  sanctified  by  the  truth  which  he 
believes  and  delights  in ; — he  derives  from  it 
motive  and  direction,  will  and  ability.  The  life 
he  lives  in  the  flesh  is  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of 
God,  who  loved  him  and  gave  himself  for  him. 
He  has  fellowship  with  the  Father  and  with  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ.  In  him  the  virtues  and  charities 
that  command  the  approbation  of  all  who  witness 
their  exercise,  are  not  the  productions  of  nature, 
but  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit.  In  a  word,  "  he 
abideth  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,"  and  his  conduct 
adorns  it.  If  this  be  true  of  him,  he  will  be  able 
to  give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  him,  both  as 
to  his  own  Christianity,  and  his  belief  in  revelation 
itself.  Nor  will  his  views  of  divine  truth  be  vague 
and  superficial,  as  is  the  case  with  many.  Loving 
the   fountain,  living  near  it  and   drinking    of  it 


84  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

daily,  his  knowledge  may  be  expected  to  be  ac- 
curate, extensive,  well  digested,  and  always  in- 
creasing". 

Young  converts,  if  they  are  not  spoiled  by 
unsound  public  instruction  or  by  improper  books, 
make  rapid  progress  in  divine  knowledge.  The 
dimness  of  their  first  conceptions  gradually  wears 
away.  What  was  confused  becomes  distinct, 
what  was  unperceived  is  now  clearly  seen,  and 
every  thing  appears  in  its  true  colors  and  pro- 
portions— just  as  the  face  of  nature  is  discovered  to 
the  eye,  when  the  mists  of  the  morning  disappear. 

This,  although  Avitli  great  variety,  in  individual 
experience,  may  be  called  the  first  stage  of  Chris- 
tian experience.  In  favorable  circumstances, 
there  will  be  seen  a  beautiful  proportion  between 
the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  enlightening  the  mind 
and  renewing  it — the  increase  of  light  and  the 
increase  of  heat — the  spiritual  perceptions  of  the 
soul,  and  the  vital  warmth  of  the  system. 

But  the  candidate  for  the  missionary  office  must 
not  be  a  new  convert.  He  must  have  passed  his 
novitiate  before  he  be  encouraged  to  take  any 
steps  with  a  view  to  it ;  for  the  circumstance  of 
being  a  novice  in  the  Christian  profession,  is  of 
itself  a  bar  to  every  department  of  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  In  most  cases  no  accurate  judgment 
can  be  formed  of  what  his  profession  will  come  to, 
till  a  considerable  time  has  proved  it.  It  is  not 
safe  to  judge  by  the  early  blossoms.  The  young 
disciple  may  seem  to  the  eye  a  promising  plant  of 
righteousnesss,  but  "by  their  fruits  shall  ye 
know  them."  And  even  supposing  his  profession 
to  be  genuine,  to  lay  hands  suddenly  on  such  an 
one  at  an  early  period  of  his  experience  might  be 
attended  with  the  worst  effects.     The  specific  rea- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  85 

son  assigned  why  a  novice  should  not  be  appointed 
to  the  bishop's  office  is,  "  lest  being  lifted  up  with 
pride  he  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil." 
The  wisdom  of  the  apostolical  rule,  therefore,  is 
manifest,  and  it  can  never  be  infringed  without 
danger. 

We  have  supposed  the  individual  in  question  to 
have  made  a  good  beginning,  to  be  well  grounded 
in  the  truth,  and  as  he  must  have  passed  the  first 
years  of  the  Christian  life,  he  ought  to  have  made 
good  progress.  If  he  has  not  been  apt  to  learn, 
he  cannot  be  thought  likely  to  prove  apt  to  teach  ; 
and  that  whether  we  understand  the  phrase  to  denote 
aptness  as  to  capacity,  or  aptness  as  to  disposition ; 
whether  able  to  teach,  or  ready  and  inclined  to 
teach.*  Kabits  of  study  are  of  vast  consequence 
in  teachers.  Neither  learning,  nor  piety,  nor 
talents,  nor  fluency  of  speech,  nor  any  other  gift 
can  compensate  for  the  want  of  such  habits.  This 
is  universally  acknowledged  as  to  ministers  of  the 
gospel  at  home,  and  it  holds  equally  in  the  case  of 
missionaries.  There  may  not  be  in  the  sphere  of 
the  latter,  at  least  for  a  season  after  entering 
upon  their  work,  the  same  call  to  study  in  the 
way  of  preparation  for  the  pulpit ;  but  still  they 
have  studies,  and  those  perhaps  more  laborious, 
more  uninviting,  and  considered  in  themselves 
more  irksome  than  the  closet  employments  of  a 
minister.     And  without  habits  of  study,  how  shall 

*  didaXTixog  may  properly  mean  both  able,  and  willing 
to  teach.  The  word  occurs  only  twice  in  the  New  Testament, 
viz.  1  Tim.  iii.  2,  and  "l  Tim.  ii.  °Zi.  In  the  latter  of  these,  the 
Vulg.  renders  it  by  docibilis.  This  rendering'  is  supported  by 
Schleusner,  who  considers  docile,  teachable,  as  agreeing  better 
with  the  immediate  connection  ;  but  I  much  question  the  accu- 
racy of  his  opinion  in  this  instance. 

7* 


86  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

a  man  encounter  the  task  of  learning  barbarous 
languages — studying  the  voluminous  mythology, 
and  philosophy,  and  absurdity  of  Brahma  or  of  Fo  ? 
But  in  the  contemplated  work,  the  duty  of  preach- 
ing the  gospel  must  not  be  lost  sight  of.  The 
missionary  must  "  preach  the  word" — and  will  he 
have  no  need  to  study  the  sermons  he  delivers  to 
the  heathen  in  their  own  tongue  ?  Is  the  task  of 
preaching  easier  in  proportion  to  the  ignorance  of 
the  hearers,  or  does  not  this  very  ignorance  in- 
crease the  difficulty  of  making  instruction  effectu- 
ally to  bear  upon  ihem  ?  What  clearness,  what 
plainness,  what  evidence,  what  energy,  what  vari- 
ous lights,  what  illustrations,  what  comparisons 
must  be  used  by  the  "instructer  of  the  foolish, 
the  teacher  of  babes  !"  Which  is  the  easier  task — 
to  convey  your  meaning  to  the  mind  of  a  man  of 
good  understanding,  or  to  make  an  idiot  compre- 
hend it  ?  But  I  need  not  insist  upon  this  here. 
Only  be  it  remembered,  that  a  missionary  as  well 
as  an  ordinary  minister  must  be  a  man  of  appli- 
cation, and  have  both  capacity  and  inclination  to 
learn  and  to  teach  ;  otherwise  he  can  neither  con- 
duct his  ministrations  with  comfort  to  himself  nor 
benefit  to  others.  His  teaching  may  not  be  pos- 
itively erroneous,  but  he  must  either  tire  his 
hearers  with  a  never  ending  repetition  of  the  same 
things,  or  his  instructions  must  be  superficial 
and  unsatisfactory.  If  he  make  no  progress 
himself,  he  cannot  possibly  lead  forward  others 
from  one  step  to  another  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
mystery  of  Christ.  Besides,  the  want  of  such 
habits  implies,  that  he  is  addicted,  if  not  to  abso- 
lute idleness,  to  some  unfit  methods  of  spending 
his  time.  And  whatever  these  be,  although  not 
altogether  inconsistent  with  the  Christian  profession, 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  87 

they  are  yet  unquestionably  inexpedient  for  him, 
since  they  lead  to  the  neglect  of  some  of  his  pri- 
mary duties,  and  ^SffFect  the  usefulness  of  his  minis- 
try in  the  most  serious  manner. 

I  feel  that  I  am  wandering  from  the  point  with 
which  I  set  out;  but  these  discussions  arising1  out 
of  the  view  we  are  taking  of  the  missionary  cha- 
racter, although  not  necessary  to  the  simple  exhi- 
bition of  the  qualifications  with  which  that  character 
ought  to  be  invested,  may  furnish  matter  of  useful 
reflection,  and  show  what  the  missionary  ought  not 
to  be,  as  well  as  what  he  ought. 

Before  proceeding  to  examine  him  as  to  talent, 
temper,  &c,  our  young  Christian's  desire  for  the 
missionary  work  may  here  be  noticed.  We  have 
been  taking  a  view  of  his  piety,  the  holiness  of 
his  deportment,  and  the  spirituality  of  his  mind  ; 
connected  with  these  features,  there  should  be  a 
decided  predilection  for  the  missionary  work.  I 
reckon  this  an  essential  qualification.  But  this 
predilection  must  not  be  a  sudden  flash  of  feeling, 
not  like  the  prophet's  gourd  which  came  up  in  a 
night,  and  may  perish  in  a  night.  I  should  not 
augur  favorably  of  the  determined  resolution  and 
unwearying  perseverance  of  the  man,  who  all  at 
once  formed,  and  as  suddenly  executed,  the  pur- 
pose of  becoming  a  missionary.  It  seems  to  me 
more  congruous  to  suppose,  that  an  undertaking  of 
so  momentous  a  nature,  and  involving  consequences 
so  incalculably  serious,  both  to  the  individual  him- 
self, and  all  who  may  be  in  any  manner  connected 
with  him,  has  been  the  subject  of  long,  and 
anxious,  and  prayerful  consideration :  that  it 
has  been  revolved  again  and  again ;  that  it  has 
stirred  up  a  "multitude  of  thoughts"  in  the  breast 
of  the  young  Christian,  uncertain  as  to  his  call, 
diffident  of  his  qualifications,  fearful    of  mistaking 


83  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

inclination  for  a  sense  of  duty,  mortified  by  the 
consciousness  of  inadequate  impression  ;  and  yet 
habitually  contemplating  the  work  with  deep 
solemnity  of  spirit :  at  last  opening  his  mind  to 
Christian  friends  ;  meeting  both  with  discourage- 
ment and  support,  but  still  growing  in  his  desire* 
for  the  office  of  an  evangelist ;  decidedly  pre- 
ferring it  before  all  others,  feeling  more  powerfully 
the  impulse  of  holy  motives,  more  steadily  resisting 
the  suggestions  of  the  flesh,  and  all  temptations 
that  would  either  allure  him  to  a  life  of  more 
honor,  or  less  self-denial : — but  his  purpose  still 
acquiring  more  stability  amidst  the  agitation  of 
conflicting  views  and  interests  ;  till  the  voice  of 
Providence  evidently  concurs  with  the  written 
commandment,  urging  him  to  go  forth  to  the  help 
of  the  Lord.  Thus  far  all  is  as  it  should  be  ;  and  if 
the  inquiry  as  to  talent,  &c.  be  equally  satisfactory, 
it  will  be  the  duty  of  friends  and  connections  to 
join  in  bidding  him  God  speed,  and  help  him  for- 
ward in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

I  must  break  off  for  the  present,  hoping  to  be 
able  soon  to  resume  the  subject.  I  am,  &c. 

*  "If  a  man  desire  the  office  of  a  bishop,  he  desireth  a  good 
work,"  1  Tim.  iii.  1.  The  word  desire  occurs  twice  here  ;  but 
it  is  not  the  same  word  in  the  Greek  in  both  cases.  The  first  is 
the  word  OQSysrai,  which  signifies  to  stretch  out  the  hand 
towards  a  thing,  hence,  metaphorically  to  desire  earnestly,  to  ex- 
press eagerness  to  obtain.  It  is  the  same  word  used  1  Tim.  vi. 
10.  "  The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil,  which,  while 
some  coreted  after,'7  &c.  Like  the  miser's  passion  for  money, 
should  tin;  man  of  God  desire— coret  not  the  wages,  but  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  The  other  word  erridvfie  /,  has  a  simi- 
lar meaning.  See  Luke  xxii.  15.  Acts  xx.  33.  Rom.  vii.  7, 
and  xiii.  9.  where  it  is  translated  covet.  In  other  places,  it  is 
used  to  express  the  desire  of  lbod  which  a  hungry  man  feels,  as 
in  Luke  xv.  16,  xvi.  21,  &c. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  89 

LETTER    IV. 

THE    SAME    SUBJECT    CONTINUED. 

My  dear  Friend, 

An  opinion  has  been  very  generally  taken  up, 
that  missionaries  to  the  heathen  need  not  to  be 
more  than  men  of  very  ordinary  talents :  that  a 
man  of  warm  piety,  though  not  distinguished  above 
the  common  run  of  every  day  characters,  either  by 
depth  or  acuteness  of  understanding,  but  a  man  of 
plain  sense  and  moderate  intelligence,  is  fully  com- 
petent to  till  the  station  of  a  Christian  missionary, 
except,  perhaps,  at  a  few  places  among  Pagans 
or  Mohammedans  of  a  more  refined  and  intellectual 
cast.  There,  it  is  admitted  men  of  greater  ability 
are  requisite.  This  contracted  and  most  false  and 
hurtful  notion  of  the  subject  is  less  prevalent  now, 
I  believe,  than  it  was  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago  ; 
but  it  is  still  retained  by  many.  Even  to  this  day, 
in  certain  circles,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  hear  such 
a  remark  as  this  :  "  Such  an  one  has  not  talent 
enough  for  the  ministry  at  home,  but  he  may  do 
for  a  missionary  ;"  or,  "  What  a  pity  that  a  young 
man  of  fine  abilities  like  Mr.  Such-a-one,  should 
not  stay  at  heme,  but  throw  himself  away  by  be- 
coming a  missionary ! 

This  subject  ought  to  have  a  candid  consider- 
ation. If  the  opinion  or  impression  on  the  public 
mind,  respecting  the  sort  of  men  that  should  be- 
come missionaries,  be  erroneous,  it  must  be  highly 
injurious,  not  merely  to  the  individuals  who  have 
entered  the  missionary  field,  and  those  who  may 
yet  follow   them,  but  to  the  cause  at  large.      It 


90  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

tends  to  lower  the  character  of  all  the  operations 
connected  with  the  evangelization  of  the  world — 
makes  it  almost  disreputable  to  have  any  immediate 
connection  with  the  agents  employed  in  conduct- 
ing these  operations,  and  by  a  natural  consequence 
diminishes  the  interest  that  is  taken  in  all  that  is 
done,  and  all  that  may  yet  be  accomplished  by 
such  instruments.  I  trust  I  may  "magnify  my 
office,"  (not  supposing  it  comparable  however  with 
that  of  him  whose  words  I  quote,) — I  say,  I  trust 
I  may  "  magnify  my  office"  without  the  impu- 
tation of  pride  or  vain  glory.  But  if  in  regard 
to  the  sacrifices  it  requires — the  duties  it  involves — 
the  responsibility  that  attaches  to  it — the  object  it 
aims  at — the  effects  it  may  produce — the  mission- 
ary service  is  not  inferior  to  the  ministerial,  why 
should  it  be  more  lightly  esteemed  ? 

I  admit  that,  in  some  missionary  settlements, 
there  are  inferior  departments  which  may  be  filled 
most  usefully  by  persons  of  mediocrity,  both  as  to 
talent  and  attainment,  provided  there  be  men  of 
a  more  able  description  to  fill  the  higher  depart- 
ments. For  instance,  a  man  of  ordinary  capa- 
city may  occupy  the  situation  of  schoolmaster :  * 
he  may  give  instruction  in  the  common  branches  of 
education ;  he  may  catechise  children  and  even 
adults,  and  may  do  much  valuable  service  to  the 
cause  in  his  limited  sphere  ;  leaving  to  others  of 
greater  energy    of  mind,  and    of  higher    acquire- 


*  But  query,  May  not  schoolmasters  and  all  such  inferior 
laborers  in  a  mission  be  (bund  among'  the  natives  ?  The 
employment  of  native  cateehists  is  recommended,  not  merely 
on  the  ground  of  their  being  equally  able  to  do  such  duties  ;  but 
because  the  expense  of  employing  such  is  incomparably  less, 
and  they  can  be  found  in  much  greater  numbers,  than  Christian 
teachers  sent  from  another  country. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  91 

ments,  to  direct  the  general  affairs  of  the  mission — 
to  engage  in  translating — in  preparing  elementary 
books  of  instruction — in  studying  the  religious 
system  of  the  people — in  convincing  and  instruct- 
ing gainsayers  among  the  heathen — pointing  out 
their  absurdities — refuting  their  arguments — prov- 
ing the  futility  of  their  objections  to  Christianity — 
bringing  the  facts,  doctrines,  &c.  of  revelation  to 
bear  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people — and  adapting 
all  these  to  their  peculiar  character  and  circum- 
stances. Without  ascribing  to  human  agency 
more  than  belongs  to  it,  no  one  hesitates  to  assign 
a  high  value  to  the  talents  and  learning  of  a 
minister  at  home,  which  render  his  ministry  accept- 
able and  effective.  Will  the  weight  of  character 
and  the  power  of  mind  displayed  by  a  missionary  be 
less  felt  in  his  sphere  ?  Has  he  not  full  scope  for 
all  his  powers  ?  And  is  not  the  exercise  of  them 
required  in  a  missionary  field  as  much  as  in  a 
Christian  congregation  ?  Should  a  missionary  of 
the  first  abilities,  stationed  among  some  of  the  most 
degraded  of  the  species,  represent  his  sphere  as  too 
limited  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents,  I  should 
entertain  a  very  mean  opinion  of  his  judgment,  to 
say  nothing  of  his  humility  and  modesty.  I  can- 
not well  conceive  of  any  field  of  missionary  exer- 
tion where  high  intellectual  powers  may  not  have 
the  finest  and  most  useful  display — and  indeed 
many  of  the  duties  of  a  missionary  are  such,  that 
none  but  persons  of  superior  understanding  and  of 
cultivated  minds  are  qualified  for  the  proper  dis- 
charge of  them.  To  present  this  in  another  point 
of  view,  be  it  observed,  that  it  is  the  property  of 
a  vigorous  mind  to  accomplish  with  ease,  and  in  a 
short  time,  what  a  mind  of  inferior  power  cannot 
perform  but   at  the   expense   of  much  time    and 


92  LETTERS  ON   MISSIONS. 

severe  labor.  In  the  acquisition  of  languages — 
in  plans  for  the  amelioration  of  the  people — in 
acquiring  influence  over  them — managing  and 
moulding  them — and  many  other  branches  of  mis- 
sionary work,  a  man  of  quick  perceptions  and 
energetic  character  does  more  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  than  weaker  men  could  in  a  long  life- 
time. Now,  is  this  a  matter  of  no  consequence  ? 
Is  the  quantum  of  effect  which  may  be  produced 
in  a  given  time  not  worth  consideration  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  men  to  this  service,  although  the 
life  of  man  is  so  short,  and  the  work  so  great,  and 
the  laborers  so  few,  and  delay  so  much  to  be 
deprecated  ? 

There  is  one  specious  argument  in  favor  of  the 
erroneous  notion  I  am  attempting  to  expose : — 
namely,  That  the  mind  of  a  heathen  unenlightened 
by  revelation,  into  whose  understanding  science  or 
philosophy  never  shot  a  single  ray,  but  beclouded 
and  bewildered  by  his  gloomy  mythology,  whose 
very  light  is  darkness,  must  be  so  weak,  that  a 
Christian  of  the  most  ordinary  capacity  will  prove 
more  than  a  match  for  him.  This  is  quite  mis- 
taking the  matter.  The  Christian,  it  is  true,  has 
greatly  the  advantage  of  the  other  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  knowledge  of  revelation  which  he 
firmly  believes,  and  which  has  enlightened  him  on 
a  multitude  of  topics  that  are  altogether  unknown 
to  the  heathen.  But  there  is  a  natural  force  of 
mind,  a  power  of  reasoning,  and  examining,  and 
objecting,  often  discovered  by  mere  savages,  which 
would  quite  confound  the  theorists  who  attribute 
to  them  only  ignorance  and  stupidity.  There  are 
doubtless  minds  of  the  highest  order  among  all 
races  of  men,  and  perhaps  there  is  no  good  ground 
to  conclude  that  such  specimens  of  genius  are  more 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  93 

rare  in  savage  than  in  civilized  countries.  In  the 
latter  every  advantage  is  enjoyed  for  bringing  out 
and  improving  the  faculties  ;  but  in  the  former,  in 
spite  of  all  that  tends  to  stint  and  repress  them, 
there  are  minds  that  burst  through  every  obstacle, 
and  expand  and  shine  in  all  their  native  light  and 
majesty.  The  missionary  often  comes  into  contact 
with  such.  In  discourse  with  them,  he  hears  them 
start  objections,  bring  forward  arguments,  require 
explanations,  and  defend  their  own  opinions  in  a 
manner  that  will  gravel  the  most  experienced 
dialectician.  How  can  a  teacher  of  shallow  un- 
derstanding, and  mean  reasoning  faculties,  stand 
before  such  a  man  ?  Assuredly,  if  he  does  not 
feel  his  own  inferiority,  the  savage  will  perceive 
it ;  and  it  is  easy  for  him  to  transfer  his  contempt 
of  such  a  missionary  to  the  cause  he  advocates, 
and  become  confirmed  in  his  errors  because  his 
antagonist  could  not  refute  them.  No  one  will 
say,  surely,  that  a  missionary  ought  to  avoid  such 
discussions.  To  do  so  would  be  construed  as  a 
confession  of  his  own  weakness,  or  the  weakness 
of  his  cause.  The  apostle  Paul  exhorts  to  avoid 
foolish  and  untaught  questions,  &c.  agitated  merely 
out  of  a  contentious  spirit,  or  concerning  subjects 
not  revealed,  or  beyond  the  reach  of  the  human 
faculties.  But  a  missionary  must  distinguish  be- 
tween cases  of  this  kind  and  the  reasonings  of  a 
heathen,  desiring  nothing  but  a  fair  discussion 
of  his  views.  When  a  man  "  opposes"  in  this 
spirit,  the   missionary's   duty  is   "in  meekness  to 

instruct    him if    God    peradventure    will     give 

him  repentance  to  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
truth." 

I  am  not  making  overstrained  representatations  on 
this  subject.     I  appeal  to  the  experience  of  every 
8 


94  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

missionary,  if  he  has  not  at  times  been  placed  in 
situations  which  made  him  feel  most  keenly  his 
deficiencies,  both  perhaps  in  respect  of  natural 
endowments  and  acquired  knowledge ;  and  few 
I  think  who  know  the  work  practically  will 
refuse  to  own  that,  as  to  themselves,  with  far 
higher  powers,  and  more  extensive  learning,  they 
might  find  scope  for  the  employment  of  all  in 
the  course  of  their  ministry  among  a  heathen 
people  in  a  state  of  utter  barbarism. 

But  some  one  may  ask  of  what  use  is  Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew,  philosophy,  and  science  to 
a  missionary  among  a  horde  of  savages  ?  What 
is  he  the  better  for  being  an  adept  in  mathe- 
matics or  astronomy,  for  being  a  skilful  chemist 
or  botanist  ?  "  An  ounce  of  grace  is  worth  a  cart- 
load of  Greek,"  say  some.  When  I  have  heard 
such  remarks — betraying  so  much  ignorance  and 
so  great  love  for  it,  I  have  been  tempted  to  treat 
them  with  silent  contempt ;  but  as  this  specious 
way  of  representing  the  matter  may  have  led  some 
honest  but  ill-informed  minds  to  contract  a  pre- 
judice against  learning  in  missionaries  as  altogether 
useless,  if  not  positively  hurtful,  I  shall  endeavor 
to  form  a  very  short  and  plain  answer.  First, 
As  to  the  learned  languages. — Missionaries  may 
have  to  act  the  part  of  translators  of  the  word  of 
God.  They  should  be  able  to  do  it  from  the  ori- 
ginals. And  even  should  the  task  of  translating 
not  be  required  of  them,  the  capacity  of  reading 
the  books  of  inspiration  in  the  languages  in  which 
they  were  written,  is  a  qualification  which  none 
will  despise  or  think  of  small  value,  but  those 
who  themselves  are  destitute  of  it.  Second,  As  to 
philosophy,  science,  and  art ;  the  right  use  of  them 
is  tx>  enable  a  man  to  read  and  explain  the  volume 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  95 

of  creation.  They  hold  the  same  relation  to  the 
ivorks  of  God,  that  the  knowledge  of  languages 
does  to  his  word.  The  innumerable  lines  of  wis- 
dom, goodness,  power,  and  majesty,  written  on 
every  leaf  of  the  great  volume  of  the  universe 
of  God,  cannot  be  perused  and  understood  to 
full  advantage,  without  an  acquaintance  with 
the  facts  and  discoveries  in  every  department  of 
science.  "  Knowledge  is  power" — and  as  we 
take  it  for  granted  that  the  missionary  is  not  dis- 
posed to  abuse  his  power,  but  to  employ  it  to  the 
"  profit  of  many  that  they  may  be  saved" — he  can- 
not have  too  much  knowledge.  All  things  are 
not  equally  important  to  be  known  ;  but  there  are 
few  branches  of  knowledge  which  may  not  be  of 
use  at  one  time  or  another — the  missionary,  I  repeat 
it,  cannot  know  too  much. 

I  proposed,  when  I  began  this  letter,  to  treat 
of  the  talents  and  learning  requisite  for  mission- 
aries, but  did  not  foresee  that  so  much  was  to  be 
said  in  removing  objections  before  coming  directly 
to  the  point.  I  shall  be  more  brief  now,  because, 
from  the  incidental  remarks  already  thrown  out, 
you  may  gather  what  are  my  ideas  of  the  intel- 
lectual qualifications,  which,  with  other  gifts  and 
graces,  render  an  individual  eligible  to  the  office  of 
i  a  missionary. 

A  facility  of  acquiring  languages  is  commonly 
and  justly  reckoned  a  valuable  missionary  talent. 
This  is  too  obvious  to  require  any  illustration.  A 
missionary,  in  a  great  measure  destitute  of  it,  may 
indeed,  in  certain  situations,  prove  a  very  useful 
member  of  a  mission.  The  possession  of  other 
gifts,  in  an  eminent  degree,  may  almost  compen- 
Bate  for  the  want  of  this ;  but,  generally  speaking, 
one  who  possesses  this  quickness  in  the  acquisition 


96  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

of  languages,  promises  to  be  the  more  useful 
missionary.     He  can  sooner,  and  with  more  effect, 

have    direct    intercourse    with   the    people can 

sooner  engage  in  translating,  or  in  original  com- 
position— preparing  element-try  books,  tracts,  &c. 
But  one  who  has  only  a  small  portion  of  the  gift 
in  question,  is  not  merely  late  in  acquiring,  he 
rarely  acquires  a  foreign  language  to  any  per- 
fection. 

Whether  a  young  man  actually  possesses  this 
facility  may  be  easily  ascertained  ;  but  many,  I 
think,  acquire  the  character  without  deserving  it. 
A  young  man  of  intense  application,  by  mere 
dint  of  long  and  severe  study,  gains  perhaps  a 
tolerable  acquaintance  with  Latin  and  Greek  ; — 
he  is  able  to  make  a  respectable  figure  as  a  classic, 
and  with  many  he  gains  the  reputation  of  having  a 
great  turn  for  languages.  But  all  that  ought  to  be 
said  of  him  is,  that  he  is  able,  after  a  season  of 
severe  and  perhaps  unacknowledged  toil,  to  mas- 
ter the  difficulties  of  a  language — and  this  is  saying 
a  great  deal.  The  acquisition  of  a  language,  even 
to  a  man  of  the  quickest  talents,  is  only  the  reward, 
(whatever  some  may  pretend,)  of  hard,  persevering, 
close  study.  It  is  well  known  that  this  talent 
is  one  of  the  first  a  man  loses  as  he  advances  in 
years.  As  the  memory,  upon  which  it  essentially 
depends,  is  the  first  of  our  faculties  that  ar- 
rives at  maturity,  and  is  often  exercised  in  all 
its  vigor,  before  there  be  any  ripeness  of  judg- 
ment, so  it  is  the  first  that  begins  to  decay.  Few 
retain,  even  to  middle  age,  the  ability  to  acquire 
a  new  language,  unless  they  have  been  habituated 
to  such  studies  from  their  youth.  In  this  case 
the  faculty  is  longer  retained,  for  the  constant 
exercise  of  the  memory  both  greatly  improves  it 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  97 

and  preserves  it  in  full  vigor,  sometimes  to  a  late 
period  of  life.  I  therefore  fully  agree  in  opinion 
with  Dr.  C.  who  once  observed  to  me,  in  con- 
versation upon  this  very  subject,  that,  considering 
the  importance  of  a  facility  of  acquiring  foreign 
tongues  to  a  missionary,  and  the  early  decay 
of  this  talent,  a  young  man  of  twenty  was  preferable 
to  another  of  twenty-five  (ceteris  paribus)  for  the 
missionary  work. 

A  clear  and  vigorous  understanding — a  sound 
judgment — an  active  and  energetic  mind ; — these  are 
of  prime  importance  to  a  missionary.  Placed  in 
circumstances  where  he  must  often  be  called  to 
determine  for  himself,  or  to  consult  with  his  breth- 
ren in  matters  of  the  first  moment  to  the  interests 
of  their  mission,  the  possession  of  a  calm  and  dis- 
cerning judgment  is  peculiarly  requisite.  A  man 
who  is  too  hasty  or  too  shallow  to  deliberate  and  com- 
pare, and  take  a  clear  and  comprehensive  view  of 
things  in  cases  of  difficulty,  will,  if  alone,  be  often  in 
danger  of  taking  the  most  fatal  steps  ;  and  acting 
with  equal  want  of  Avisdom  in  other  cases,  may 
commit  as  egregious  mistakes  in  taking  no  steps  at 
all.  It  is  the  part  of  a  sound  mind  to  inform  a 
man  both  what  to  do  and  what  to  refrain  from 
doing ;  and  to  determine  the  time  and  manner  of 
doing  things,  is  of  as  much  consequence  as  to 
ascertain  the  propriety  of  the  thing  itself.  But 
it  is  not  merely  in  a  few  great  transactions  that  the 
exercise  of  judgment  is  required.  The  daily  oc- 
currences of  life,  and  especially  of  a  missionary  life, 
present  innumerable  occasions  for  the  exercise  of  a 
clear,  prompt,  enlightened,  well-regulated  mind.  In- 
tercourse with  persons  of  all  ranks  and  characters — 
the  management  of  secular  affairs — the  direction 
and  superintendence  of  servants  and  converts — 
8* 


98  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

of  the  family  establishment — of  the  missionary 
settlement — perhaps  of  the  whole,  community.  If 
a  strong  mind  is  not  brought  to  the  performance 
of  such  duties,  the  missionary  will  often  expose 
the  cause  to  danger  and  loss,  and  himself  to 
contempt. 

Prulence  and  circumspection  are  likewise  valu- 
able qualifications.  Prudence  is  wisdom  applied 
to  practice.  The  possession  of  this  quality  enables 
a  man  to  apply  his  knowledge  in  a  wise  and  con- 
siderate manner.  A  man  greatly  deficient  in  pru- 
dence is  a  most  dangerous  member  of  a  missionary 
settlement.  A  rash  unadvised  act,  one  impru- 
dent word,  may  occasion  the  most  serious  mischiefs 
to  a  cause  perhaps  in  its  infancy — opposed  by  all 
the  wickedness  of  the  place,  assailed  by  the  tongue 
of  slander,  watched  by  the  eye  of  malice,  and  every 
advantage  ready  to  be  taken  of  the  smallest  im- 
propriety of  speech  or  behaviour  of  the  individuals 
who  belong  to  it. 

Besides,  in  the  general  prosecution  of  the  work 
of  evangelizing  the  people,  there  is  continual 
occasion  for  the  exercise  of  this  virtue.  It  was 
when  our  Lord  sent  out  the  disciples  to  preach, 
and  with  immediate  reference  to  the  fulfilment  of 
their  commission,  that  he  charged  them  to  be 
"  wise  as  serpents  and  harmless  as  doves."  This 
precept  is  dictated  by  the  highest  wisdom ;  and 
nothing,  humanly  speaking,  is  more  essential  to  the 
success  of  missionary  undertakings,  than  that  the 
execution  of  them  be  intrusted  to  wise  and  pru- 
dent men.  Without  prudence,  the  most  fervent 
love,  and  the  purest  motives,  and  the  best  gifts, 
would  be  insufficient  for  the  attainment  of  their 
object;  and  the  greatest  zeal,  without  wisdom  to 
conduct  it,   would    but    enable    its    possessor    to 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  99 

do  the  more  extensive  mischief.  Think  for  a 
moment  what  a  work  is  intrusted  to  missionaries  ; 
and  if  they  be  men  deficient  in  wisdom  and  pru- 
dence, imagine  what  must  be  the  consequence. 
They  aim  at  nothing  less  than  changing  the  moral 
face  of  the  world.  When  they  establish  them- 
selves in  a  heathen  country,  they  set  themselves  to 
subvert  the  established  belief  of  the  people  on  the 
most  important  of  all  subjects — they  give  the  lie 
to  the  gods  the  people  worship,  and  to  their  sages 
who  taught  them  to  do  so — they  lay  the  axe  to 
their  most  deeply  rooted  prejudices,  oppose  their 
favorite  dogmas  and  ancient  customs — pouring 
contempt  on  their  most  venerated  institutions,  and 
drawing  down  infamy  on  their  priesthood,  and 
ruin  on  their  craft — and  all  to  introduce  a  new, 
a  foreign  religion !  Here  is  a  task — and  what 
sort  of  men  ought  to  attempt  it  ?  Whoever  is  quali- 
fied, an  imprudent  man  is,  prima  facie,  unfit. 
"Not  that  the  wisest  are  sufficient  to  think  any 
thing  as  of  themselves  ;"  but  if  there  is  to  be  the 
adaptation  of  means  to  the  end,  let  them  be  we 
as  well  as  good  and  zealous  men  who  go  forth  as 
missionaries. 

I  should  now  pass  on  to  another  point  of  great 
moment  to  be  attended  to  in  judging  of  the  suitable- 
ness of  a  young  man  proposing  to  become  a  mis- 
sionary— I  mean  temper.  But  in  another  letter, 
I  have  so  fully  entered  into  the  subject,  when 
speaking  of  the  cultivation  of  right  feelings  and 
dispositions  among  the  members  of  a  missionary 
establishment,  that  I  need  say  little  more  here. 
It  is  proper  to  observe,  however,  that  a  good 
temper,  and  kind,  respectful  and  conciliating  de-' 
meanor,  are  not  important  in  reference  merely 
to    the   missionary's    individual    comfort,   and   the 


100  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

peace  and  cordiality  of  the  family  circle  ;  it  ex- 
tends to  all  his  multiplied  relations  as  a  member 
of  society,  and  especially  as  a  missionary  among 
a  heathen  people.  Instead  of  descanting  upon 
this,  however,  I  would  merely  suggest  that 
"  the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  Christ,"  the 
great  exemplar  of  all  his  followers,  and  especially 
of  them  who  "bear  his  name  to  the  Gentiles," 
should  be  brightly  displayed  in  their  characters. 
Meek — patient — gentle  to  all  men — loving  peace — 
not  self-willed — not  soon  angry — bearing  the 
infirmities  of  the  weak — these  are  among  the 
prominent  features  of  the  beautiful  portrait  of  the 
man  of  God,  as  sketched  by  the  pen  of  inspiration. 
It  is  required  of  a  bishop,  that  he  be  one  that 
ruleth  well  his  own  house.  This  surely  implies 
that  he  is  able  to  govern  his  own  temper  ;  for,  if 
a  man  has  not  his  own  passions  under  due  control, 
how  can  he  "  have  his  children  in  subjection  with 
all  gravity  ;" — and  if  he  know  not  how  to  rule 
his  own  house,  how  shall  he  take  care  of  the  church 
of  God?" 

Candor  and  condescension,  sympathy  and  amiable 
concern  for  the  good  of  all  around  him,  should 
mark  his  whole  deportment.  Thus  he  will  gain 
his  way  to  the  hearts  of  his  people  ;  or,  if  they 
return  evil  for  his  good,  and  hatred  for  his  love, 
he  will  not  need  to  reproach  himself  for  neg- 
lecting the  means  of  attaching  them  to  him  by 
affection.  The  uniform  language  of  his  behaviour 
should  be,  "  I  will  very  gladly  spend  and  be 
spent  for  you,  though  the  more  abundantly  I  love 
you,  the  less  I  be  loved."  And  should  this  un- 
worthy return  be  his  actual  experience,  he  will 
then  be  more  conformed  in  character  and  suffering, 
not  merely  to  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  but  to 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  101 

that  Saviour  who  bore  a  love  to  sinners  beyond  all 
parallel,  and  who  was  requited  by  hatred  equally 
unexampled. 

I  mention  self-denial  last ;  but  it  is  one  of  the 
first  duties  the  missionary  will  have  to  put  in 
practice.  But  how  can  it  be  ascertained  before- 
hand that  an  individual  possesses  it,  or  shall  be 
able  to  exercise  it,  to  the  extent  required  of  him? 
What  is  self-denial  ?  It  is  not  the  being  satisfied 
with  mean  fare  and  lodging,  although  it  implies 
temperance  and  contentment  with  little.  It  is 
not  merely  ceasing  from  favorite  pursuits,  for- 
saking beloved  society,  and  encountering  perils 
and  hardships.  Self-denial  refers  to  the  state  of 
the  mind  with  respect  to  some  one  great  object — 
some  great  commanding  principle,  for  the  sake  of 
which  object,  and  under  the  influence  of  which 
principle,  all  evils  and  all  goods  are  alike 
scorned — or  at  least  sufferings  are  patiently  en- 
dured, and  enjoyments  willingly  renounced.  In 
the  case  of  the  Christian  missionary,  the  foun- 
dation of  his  self-denial  must  be  laid  in  solemn 
and  unreserved  devotement  of  all  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  work — a  devotement  he  has  made 
after  deliberately  counting  the  cost.  If  he  has 
done  so,  it  is  not  this  or  that  particular  way  in 
which  he  may  be  called  to  deny  himself,  that  he 
has  calculated  upon  and  prepared  for ;  but,  be  it 
what  it  may,  he  cares  not,  for  he  counts  all  things 
but  "loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jes>:s  his  Lord,  by  which  the  world  is  cru- 
cified to  him,  and  he  to  the  world."  He  has 
taken  up  his  cross  at  the  command  of  Christ — 
he  has  heard  him  say,  "  If  any  man  will  come  after 
me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take   up  his   cross 


]02  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

and  follow  me."  This  was  the  self-denial  of  the 
primitive  disciples.  In  this  spirit  went  forth  the 
apostles  and  first  preachers  of  the  word,  clothed  in 
their  panoply  of  celestial  brightness,  and  yet  with  all 
the  "majesty  of  meekness" — "  giving  no  offence  in 
anything,  that  the  ministry  might  not  be  blamed,  but 
in  all  things  approving  themselves  as  the  ministers 
of  God,  in  much  patience,  in  afflictions,  in  neces- 
sities, in  distresses,  in  stripes,  in  imprisonments,  in 
tumults,  in  labors,  in  watchings,  in  fastings  ;  by 
pureness,  by  knowledge,  by  long-suffering,  by 
kindness,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  love  unfeigned,  by 
the  word  of  truth,  by  the  power  of  God,  by  the 
armor  of  righteousness  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left ;  by  honor  and  dishonor,  by  evil  report 
and  good  report ;  as  deceivers,  and  yet  true  ;  as 
unknown,  and  yet  well  known ;  as  dying,  and 
behold  they  lived  ;  as  chastened,  and  not  killed  ; 
as  sorrowful,  yet  ahvays  rejoicing ;  as  poor,  yet 
making  many  rich ;  as  having  nothing,  and  yet 
possessing  all  things."  Modern  missionaries  must 
possess  a  measure  of  the  spirit  of  those  holy 
men — and,  as  they  did,  rejoice  that  if  they  suffer 
with  Christ,  they  shall  also  be  glorified  together 
with  him. 

The  self-denial  of  a  missionary,  then,  is  self- 
renunciation.  Henceforth  his  own  enjoyment — 
honor — profit,  unconnected  with  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause  he  has  espoused,  are  not  to  be 
the  end  of  any  one  action.  All  his  thoughts 
and  all  his  deeds  must  be  bent  towards  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  ministry.  That  this  crosses  his 
private  interests — opposes  his  private  inclinations — 
defeats  his  private  ends — increases  his  private  suf- 
ferings— blasts  all   his  worldly    hopes — must    not 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  103 

be  allowed  to  move  him  from  the  direct  course  duty 
commands  him  to  pursue.  And  he  does  and 
suffers  all  willingly. — "  For  Christ"  is  his  watch- 
word, and  his  motto  is,  "  For  me  to  live  is  Christ, 
and  to  die  is  gain." 

This  may  seem  a  hard  saying,  but  "  he  that  is 
able  to  receive  it  let  him  receive  it." 

I  have  attempted  then  to  give  a  slight  sketch  of 
what  I  conceive  a  missionary  should  be,  intellec- 
tually and  morally,  by  nature,  by  education,  and 
by  grace.  If  you  think  I  have  raised  the  standard 
too  high,  and  that  the  adoption  of  it  would  keep 
many  who  might  prove  useful  laborers  out  of  the 
field,  I  pray  you  to  think  again,  and  reflect 
whether  the  lower  standard  hitherto  applied  to 
missionary  candidates,  may  not  have  kept  back 
some  individuals  of  the  first  rank  as  to  learning  and 
talents,  who  were  given  to  understand,  that  su- 
perior learning  was  rather  a  disqualification  than 
a  recommendation  ;  would  raise  them  too  much 
above  their  fellow  missionaries,  or  tempt  them  to 
neglect  their  work  for  the  sake  of  literary  or 
scientific  pursuits.  Be  that  as  it  may,  I  am  per- 
suaded that  were  it  generally  understood  that  mis- 
sionaries ought  to  be  superior  men  in  every  sense 
of  the  word,  and  were  the  impression  on  the  public 
mind  respecting  them,  consequently  raised  to  Avhat 
it  ought  to  be,  the  missionary  cause  would  find 
more  able  supporters  at  home,  and  more  able  agents 
to  conduct  its  operations  abroad. 

As  a  corollary  to  what  I  have  said  on  this 
subject,  I  will  just  add,  as  my  own  conviction, 
without  going  into  the  argument,  that  the  or- 
dinary term  allowed  young  men  for  preparatory 
studies  might,  in  most  cases,  be  doubled  with  advan- 


104  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

tage  to  all  concerned.  *  A  longer  season  devoted 
to  preparation  I  think  advisable,  not  merely  that 
missionaries  might  be  sent  out  better  furnished 
with  human  learning,  and  with  greater  stores  of 
general  knowledge,  but  that  they  might  have  more 
time  to  prepare  their  hearts  for  the  work,  and 
have  all  those  feelings,  and  views,  and  impressions 
of  their  great  undertaking,  which  they  should  be 
taught  to  cherish,  more  deepened  and  matured. — 
While  their  tutors  and  patrons  would  have  better 
means  of  getting  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
men  they  have  taken  under  their  care,  be  better 
able  to  direct  them  in  their  studies,  and  be  at 
last  qualified  with  more  judgment  to  arrange  the 
appointment  of  these  young  missionaries  to  fields 
of  labor  suited  to  their  peculiar  talents  and 
characters. 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTER    V. 


DIFFICULTIES  ARISING  FROM  DIVERSITY  OF  TEMPER 
AMONG   MISSIONARIES. 

My  dear  Fiiend, 

In  pursuance  of  the  subject  of  former  letters  I 
have  now  to  submit  to  you  a  few  more  thoughts 
that  have  occurred  on  taking  a  practical  view  of 
missionary  undertakings. 

*  Not  applicable  to  missionaries  sent  from  the  United  States, 
who  generally  spend  two  or  three  years  in  a  theological  semi- 
nary, after  completing'  a  collegiate  course  of  education.  Ameri- 
can missionaries  to  the  heathen,  are  as  well  educated,  taken 
as  a  class  of  men,  as  the  pastors  of  churches  in  any  district 
of  our  country. — Am.  Ed. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  |  Q5 

Missionaries,  associated  together  in  the  honor- 
able and  arduous  work  of  evangelizing  the  heathen, 
have  a  strong,  a  sacred  bond  of  union  ;  and  this 
bond,  it  might  be  supposed,  could  in  no  case  be  in 
danger  of  being  broken.  Those  who  have  made  accu- 
rate observations  on  human  nature,  however,  will  not 
find  it  difficult  to  believe  that  even  missionaries  may 
"  fall  out  by  the  way  ;"  and  that  much  wisdom  and 
grace  are  necessary  to  preserve,  in  all  its  integrity 
and  beauty,  the  golden  chain  of  love  which  consti- 
tutes a  missionary  bond.  That  there  have  been  and 
are  so  many  edifying  instances  of  this  cordial  union 
and  co-operation,  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  matter  of 
course,  but  to  be  ascribed  to  the  influence  of  that 
elevated  Christian  principle,  and  that  spirit  of  conse- 
cration to  the  advancement  of  the  common  cause, 
which  make  those  who  occupy  the  same  field  of 
labor  smother  every  germ  of  dissension,  and  have 
taught  each  to  look,  not  upon  his  own  things,  but 
the  things  of  others. 

When  a  number  of  individuals  are  brought  to- 
gether, previously  unacquainted  with  each  other ; 
perhaps  natives  of  different  countries,  of  different 
tastes,  habits,  and  natural  tempers ;  and  differ- 
ing not  less  it  may  be  in  point  of  learning  and 
talent ;  do  not  these  diversities  form  so  many  points 
of  resistance  to  a  close  and  cordial  union  ?  They 
have  now  to  act  together  in  a  great  and  respon- 
sible work,  in  which  each  has  an  undoubted  right 
to  judge  for  himself.  It  will  therefore  soon  be  dis- 
covered that  there  is  among  them  in  many  things, 
a  difference  of  judgment.  Some  surpass  others  in 
natural  and  acquired  endowments — some  will  be 
more  active  and  forward,  others  more  passive  and 
yielding — some  fond  of  study,  others  more  inclined 
to  business  and  bustle — some  with  a  talent  for 
9 


100  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

managing-,  and  others  ever  jealous  of  their  brother's 
superiority.  It  is  more  than  can  be  expected 
that  in  all  things  they  should  think  alike.  The  same 
subject  will  appear  in  very  different  lights  to  dif- 
ferent minds ;  and  now  is  discovered  the  difficulty 
of  acting  in  harmonious  oneness  of  spirit.  Even 
supposing  passion  and  selfishness  to  have  no  place 
among  them,  how  can  they  possibly  avoid  occa- 
sions of  offence  ?  Pursue  what  plan  they  may, 
they  must  sometimes  act  in  opposition  to  the  views 
and  impressions  of  duty  of  some  individual  of  their 
number.  Not  to  mention  peculiarities  of  natural 
disposition  found  jn  some  of  the  best  of  men,  which 
render  it  impossible  for  others  to  live  and  act 
with  them,  but  on  the  terms  of  submitting  to  en- 
dure much  from  them,  and  habitually  exercising 
forbearance  towards  them.  To  maintain  all  the 
warmth  and  cordiality  of  Christian  feeling  towards 
one  another,  among  the  members  of  a  society 
so  constituted,  requires  no  small  share  of  grace. 
The  peculiarity  of  their  situation  greatly  increases 
the  difficulty.  Nothing  in  a  Christian  country  is 
exactly  parallel  to  it.  At  home,  ministers  and 
private  Christians,  when  they  combine  their  ener- 
gies for  the  promotion  of  any  common  object,  can 
select  such  individuals  as  possess  congenial  minds, 
and  all  other  requisites  for  harmonious  co-opera- 
tion. Thus  similarity  of  taste  and  temper  attract 
men  to  each  other,  and  they  lend  mutual  assist- 
ance, and  mutually  contribute  to  each  other's  plea- 
sure and  progress  in  their  various  objects  of  pur- 
suit. And  when  in  any  case  such  societies  of  men, 
or  any  individual  connected  with  them,  may  find 
it  difficult,  or  uncomfortable,  or  unprofitable,  to 
continue  together,  the  fraternity  breaks  up,  or 
the   individual   withdraws.      But   not   so   mission- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  107 

aries.  They  have  no  power  of  choosing-.  One 
grand  object,  it  is  true,  has  drawn  them  together ; 
but  be  the  object  of  human  pursuit  what  it  may, 
there  must  be  accordances  of  character  in  other 
points,  as  well  as  the  main  one,  in  order  to  their 
hopefully  and  harmoniously  working  together  ;  and 
of  such  accordances  there  may  be  a  deficiency  in 
a  band  of  missionaries  brought  together,  we  would 
not  say  accidentally,  but  with  little  or  no  regard 
to  the  fitting  of  one  character  to  another,  so  as  to 
form  a  compact  heart-cemented  body.  Now  in 
the  possible  case  of  the  members  of  a  missionary 
settlement,  proving  by  experience  that  they  are  ill 
assorted  together,  they  cannot,  like  a  religious 
or  literary  association  at  home,  dissolve  their  con- 
nection with  each  other  at  pleasure,  or  at  any 
rate,  with  little  loss  to  themselves  or  others  ; — 
they  cannot  break  up  and  re-model  the  establish- 
ment with  more  congenial  materials.  They  cannot 
separate  ;  scarcely  can  an  individual  even  withdraw, 
without  involving  the  mission  in  confusion,  per- 
haps occasioning  its  utter  ruin,  and  exposing  the 
sacred  cause  with  which  they  are  identified  to 
irreparable  injury. 

There  is  then  no  situation  in  which  Christians 
can  possibly  be  placed,  where  they  stand  more  in 
need  of  being  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the  apos- 
tolical exhortation,  "to  be  of  the  same  mind  one 
towards  another — to  esteem  each  other  highly  in 
love  for  their  works'  sake,  and  to  be  at  peace 
among  themselves."  And  perhaps  there  are  few 
situations  where  the  maintenance  of  this  spirit  is 
more  difficult  than  when,  unfortunately,  difference 
of  judgment,  in  matters  of  duty,  and  contrariety 
of  disposition  and  habits  in  common  life,  exist  in  a 
missionary   settlement.     But  if  the  duty  be   diffi- 


108  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

cult,  the  motives  to  the  exercise  of  forbearance, 
forgiveness,  and  love,  are,  in  the  case  of  mission- 
aries, very  strong.  They  have  their  hearts  and 
hands  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  They 
have  vowed  the  consecration  of  their  all  to  it ; 
and  to  merge  every  interest  and  every  feeling  in 
the  one  grand  design  of  promoting  the  kingdom  of 
their  Saviour  among  men.  They  are,  or  ought  to 
be,  so  absorbed  by  this,  as  to  leave  no  room 
for  reflection  upon  their  personal  interests ; 
habitually  reckoning  themselves  nothing;  and 
contented  to  be  accounted  nothing  by  others. 
Possessed  of  this  spirit,  a  missionary  will  bear 
and  forbear  much  ;  but  if  destitute  of  it,  his  own 
comfort,  and  that  of  his  associates,  will  be  per- 
petually marred.  In  the  course  of  the  daily  in- 
tercourse of  the  brethren,  much  will  occur  to  try 
the  power  and  patience  of  faith.  If  that  inter- 
course be  conducted  in  the  spirit  of  love,  sweetened 
by  amiable  and  Christian  condescension — "  in 
honor  preferring  one  another,"  they  will  truly  be 
fellow-helpers.  But  if  they  give  way  to  their 
own  spirit,  and  suffer  unholy  feelings  to  embitter 
their  necessary  and  unavoidable  intercourse,  the 
great  end  of  their  being  associated  together,  so  far 
as  mutual  assistance  and  comfort  are  concerned, 
is  defeated — and  their  living  together  is  rendered 
the  more  irksome,  because  they  know  they  cannot 
separate,  except  perhaps  at  an  expense  to  the 
cause  they  have  espoused,  which  they  may  not 
think  it  their  duty  to  incur. 

I  have  dwelt  more  particularly  upon  these  rep- 
resentations of  the  subject,  in  order  to  give  the 
greater  emphasis  to  the  cautions  and  warnings 
I  would  address  to  intended  missionaries,  as  to  the 
spirit  they  must  prepare  to  cultivate  towards  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  109 

brethren  with  whom,  in  the  course  of  providence, 
they  may  be  associated — brethren  not  of  their  own 
selection — and  it  may  be,  not  such  as  they  would 
choose  as  their  favorite  companions  and  friends. 
They  may  be  men  who  possess  few  qualities  in 
common  with  themselves,  with  the  exception  of 
the  fundamental  ones  of  piety  towards  God  and 
zeal  for  his  glory,  devotion  to  the  missionary 
cause,  and  the  possession  of  one  or  two  talents 
which  they  desire  to  employ  in  the  service  of 
their  Lord  and  Master  among  the  heathen.  But 
these  qualities,  common  to  all,  should  be  considered 
by  each  as  sufficient  to  bind  his  heart  to  his  breth- 
ren, and  teach  him  to  overlook  the  peculiarities 
which  may  accompany  these  primary  graces  and 
gifts — to  bear  with  and  forgive  the  tastes  and 
habits,  the  likings  and  aversions  as  to  indifferent 
things,  with  which  he  can  have  no  sympathy — 
remembering  that  his  own  peculiarities  require 
an  equal  degree  of  forbearance  to  be  exercised  by 
his  brethren  towards  him. 

Let  the  candidate  for  this  arduous  office,  then, 
not  suffer  his  glowing  imagination  to  carry  him 
away  with  the  prospect  of  the  exalted  happiness 
he  must  enjoy  in  having  for  his  associates  in 
labor,  and  for  the  companions  of  his  selected 
hours,  men  whose  hearts  have  been  warmed  like 
his  oAvn  with  the  missionary  flame  ;  men  with 
whom  his  every  pulse  beats  in  unison  as  to  the 
extension  of  the  Saviour's  kingdom  among  men, 
and  who,  like  himself,  have  left  all  to  follow  Christ. 
Let  him  not  delude  himself  with  this  romantic  view 
of  the  missionary  life.  It  may  be  his  happy  lot 
to  be  united  with  brethren  not  more  respected  and 
honored  for  their  works'  sake,  than  beloved  as 
bosom  friends.  He  may  live  and  labor  with 
9* 


HO  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

them  with  so  much  comfort,  confidence,  and 
unity  of  spirit,  as  to  leave  him  in  these  respects 
nothing  more  to  wish ;  nor  am  I  to  be  under- 
stood as  intimating-  that  such  unions  are  rare  ; 
but  this  hypothetical  enjoyment  must  not  be 
suffered  to  enter  as  an  important  item  into  the 
calculation  of  one  who  is  counting  the  cost  of  be- 
coming a  missionary.  The  estimate  ought  to  be 
made  on  the  supposition,  that  there  will  arise  from 
this  quarter  many  temptations,  many  sorrows, 
many  hindrances,  many  humiliations  ;  and  if  the 
estimate  is  so  made,  he  will  not  need  to  add, — 
many  bitter  disappointments.  When  he  has  thus 
prepared  for  the  worst,  if  his  expectations  of 
peace  and  comfort  are  exceeded,  his  enjoyment 
will  be  so  much  the  greater.  He  will  learn  better 
how  to  appreciate  the  blessing,  and  to  improve  it 
accordingly. 

Paul's  expostulation  with  the  Corinthians, 
"  Why  do  ye  not  rather  take  wrong  ?  why  do  ye 
not  rather  suffer  yourselves  to  be  defrauded  ?"  had 
a  more  immediate  reference  to  the  case  of  Chris- 
tians going  to  law  with  one  another,  and  that  before 
unbelievers.  Missionaries  may  not  go  so  far  as  this, 
and  yet  they  may  utterly  violate  the  spirit  of  the 
passage  now  quoted.  But  O  the  comfort  and  ad- 
vantage of  thoroughly  imbibing  it !  One,  resolved 
to  make  every  sacrifice  consistent  with  duty  and  a 
good  conscience,  for  the  preservation  of  harmony, 
will  most  effectually  secure  his  own  peace  of  mind, 
while  he  is  thus  studying  "the  things  that  make 
for  peace,"  with  his  brethren.  It  was  the  wise 
resolution  of  a  distinguished  friend  of  missions, 
one  of  the  first  of  those  philanthrophic  men  who  em- 
barked  in  the  cause  of  the    Missionary   Society, 

"  NEVER     TO    BE     OFFENDED, 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  [H 

he  might  meet  with  in  the  course  of  that  un- 
dertaking1. It  was  indeed  a  wise  and  noble 
resolution  ;  and  his  adherence  to  it  was  of  greater 
importance,  perhaps,  than  can  well  be  estimated, 
in  regard  to  his  own  comfort  and  usefulness,  and 
the  good  of  the  cause  as  far  as  his  influence  ex- 
tended. Let  this  resolution  be  that  of  all 
missionaries.  Let  them  never  take  offence  at  the 
treatment  they  meet  with  from  friends  or  foes. 
The  disposition  to  take  offence  where  none  is  in- 
tended, is  despicable  and  hurtful  in  the  extreme 
to  all  parties.  Where  the  conduct  of  any  one  is 
such,  that  we  have  reason  to  believe  he  had  the 
design  and  wish  to  hurt  us  ;  let  us  disappoint  him 
by  still  resolving  not  to  be  offended.  Let  us 
overcome  evil  with  good,  and  heap  coals  of  fire 
upon  the  heads  of  our  cruel  enemies  or  unkind 
friends  ;  and  who  can  tell  but  this,  by  the  blessing 
of  God,  may  melt  and  soften  them,  change  their 
enmity  into  love,  and  their  intended  injury  into 
a  real  blessing  both  to  us  and  to  themselves. 

Let  it  not  be  thought  from  the  strain  of  these 
remarks,  that  missionary  stations  present  nothing 
but  internal  dissension,  alienation  of  affection,  and 
mutual  dissatisfaction  among  the  members  ;  or  that 
they  hang  together  and  keep  up  a  show  of  affec- 
tion, interchanging  heartless  civilities,  and  sub- 
mitting to  a  constrained  and  unavoidable  inter- 
course as  if  they  were  cordially  united,  while  there 
is  at  bottom  nothing  but  coldness  and  indifference. 
No !  I  am  persuaded  that,  so  far  from  that  being 
the  case,  there  is  in  most  of  the  existing  missions 
the  most  happy  cordiality,  and  the  best  mutual 
confidence  and  friendship  in  exercise  among  the 
missionary  families.  But  this  by  no  means  dis- 
proves the  justice  of  the  abovB  remarks.  The 
fact  that  peace  and  love  reign  in  missionary  settle- 


112  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

ments,  rather  argues,  that  those  devoted  men  have 
so  fully  entered  into  the  spirit  of  their  work,  and 
that  grace  has  so  abounded  towards  them,  that 
they  have  been  enabled  to  overcome  their  peculiar 
temptations ;  and  so  to  triumph  over  the  disadvan- 
tages of  their  outward  circumstances,  that  every 
evil  passion,  and  every  unchristian  feeling  are  laid 
to  rest ;  that  in  their  social  capacity  all  bitterness 
and  clamor  and  evil  speaking  and  evil  thinking, 
are  consumed  in  the  celestial  flame  of  love.  "  Love 
suffereth  long  and  is  kind  ;  love  envieth  not ;  love 
vaunteth  not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up,  doth  not 
behave  itself  unseemly,  seeketh  not  her  own,  is 
not  easily  provoked,  thinketh  no  evil ;  rejoiceth 
not  in  iniquity,  but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth  ;  beareth 
all  things,  believeth  all  things,  hopeth  all  things, 
endureth  all  things."  This  is  the  oil  that  makes 
all  the  parts  of  the  moral  machine  move  smoothly, 
and  perform  its  work  without  noise  and  without 
weariness,  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  men. 

I  think  it  very  desirable,  on  many  accounts, 
that  these  things  were  generally  known  and  at- 
tended to.  Young  men  preparing  for  the  work, 
or  having  their  minds  inclined  towards  it,  would, 
if  the  real  state  of  matters  were  honestly  and 
without  concealment  laid  before  them,  be  better 
able  to  judge  what  they  had  to  expect,  and  how 
they  ought  to  prepare  themselves  for  the  work  in 
every  view  of  it. 

The  friends  of  such  young  men,  if  aware  of  the 
importance  of  missionaries  being  men  of  sober 
minds,  *  and  of  their  being  capable  of  becoming  all 

*  "Young  men  likewise  exhort  to  be  sober  minded," 
(ao)q)OOV£ o>)  to  have  the  due  government  of  the  mind;  to 
have  the  passions  in  due  subjection  to  judgment — to  reason 
enlightened  by  religion. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  H3 

things  to  all  men  (not  to  the  heathen  merely  for 
their  conversion,  but  to  all  men),  to  their  brethren 
also  for  their  mutual  help  and  comfort ; — I  say  if 
the  friends  of  missionary  candidates  were  aware  of 
all  this,  they  could  in  many  cases  better  decide 
whether  from  their  knowledge  of  the  character  of 
an  individual  as  to  temper,  prudence,  candor,  &c. 
they  ought  to  encourage  him  to  go  forward ;  and 
in  every  case  they  might  be  able  to  suggest  hints, 
and  inculcate  the  importance  of  attention  to  the 
"  smaller  morals,"  in  the  probable  scene  of  his 
future  activity.  A  judicious  minister,  or  other  Chris- 
tian friend,  might  in  this  way  be  rendering  a  most 
essential  service  to  the  individuals  whose  minds  they 
thus  enlighten  as  to  an  important  class  of  duties, 
and  perhaps  instrumentally  prevent  scenes  of  dis- 
cord, disaffection,  and  confusion  at  a  future  day. 
I  conclude  this  letter  with  one  word  more : — If 
these  things  were  generally  known  and  considered, 
the  people  of  God  would  pray  more  feelingly  for 
all  missionaries,  that  "  the  Lord  of  peace  himself 
would  give  them  peace  always  by  all  means." 

I  am,  yours  &c. 


LETTER   VI. 

THE       OFFICE       OF       THE       MISSIONARY       COMPARED 
WITH       THE       MINISTRY       AT       HOME. 

My  dear  Friend, 

Comparisons,  it  is  said,  are  invidious  ;  but,  as 
the  Christian  world  tacitly  makes  comparisons,  forms 


114  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

its  own  divisions,  and  acts  accordingly,  it  cannot 
be  unfair  to  bring  such  things  under  review.  If 
there  is  reason  to  suspect  that  in  any  one  instance 
popular  opinion  rests  upon  insufficient  grounds — 
that  the  things  compared,  and  concerning  which 
a  judgment  is  formed,  are  seen  through  a  medium 
that  distorts  their  proportions,  and  imparts  to  them 
a  shade  and  color  which  do  not  belong  to  them ; 
the  interests  of  truth  require  an  exposure  of  the 
deception,  and  an  exhibition  of  the  things  as  they 
are. 

Comparisons  have  been,  and  will  be,  made  be- 
tween the  ministerial  or  pastoral,  and  missionary 
offices  ;  but  if  this  be  done  in  the  way  of  exalting 
one  against  another,  there  is  utterly  a  fault  among 
them  who  do  so.  There  ought  to  be  no  strife 
which  of  them  should  be  accounted  the  greater. 
Pastors  at  home,  and  missionaries  abroad,  are 
"  brethren" — servants  of  the  same  Master,  em- 
ployed in  essentially  the  same  service,  although  very 
different  spheres  of  exertion  are  assigned  to  them. 
The  offices  have  many  things  in  common,  although 
each  calls  for  the  exercise  of  appropriate  gifts ; 
and  the  reward  of  every  faithful  servant  of  Christ, 
whatever  may  have  been  his  station  in  the  church, 
will  be  the  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 
If  those  crowns,  like  the  stars,  differ  in  glory,  the 
brightest  will  not  be  given  to  those  who  have  been 
greatest  in  their  own  eyes,  but  to  those  who  have 
most  humbly,  most  faithfully,  and  most  devotedly 
served  their  Lord  in  the  work  allotted  them. 

It  is  therefore  to  be  regretted,  that  there  exists 
so  strong  a  prejudice  with  many  against  the  mis- 
sionary character,  and  that  there  is  such  a  ten- 
dency to  depreciate  evangelical  labors  in  a  hea- 
then, below  similar  labors  in  a  Christian  country. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  H5 

But  on  the  other  hand,  far  be  it  from  me  to  sanc- 
tion an  error,  not  less  unjustifiable  than  the  one 
against  which  these  remarks  are  pointed; — the 
error  of  exalting  the  missionary  at  the  expense 
of  the  stated  minister  of  a  Christian  congregation 
at  home.  Some  ministers  eminent  for  learning, 
piety,  and  abundant  labor,  are  in  the  habit  (it 
must  be  supposed  from  real  humility)  of  extolling 
the  man  who  becomes  a  missionary  above  all  due 
bounds ; — they  speak  of  shrinking  from  the  com- 
parison with  men  of  such  fortitude,  zeal,  &c. 
They  almost  rank  some  living  missionaries  with 
apostles,  and  deceased  missionaries  with  mar- 
tyrs. Now,  however  graceful  and  humble  all  this 
may  sound  from  the  lips  of  a  minister  eminent  for 
his  gifts,  and  perhaps  venerable  for  his  age,  it 
seems  to  me  to  be  an  infringement  of  the  rule 
to  think  and  speak  soberly  both  of  ourselves  and 
others,  according  as  God  hath  dealt  to  every  man 
the  measure  of  faith. 

Let  it  not  be  thought,  then,  from  the  remarks 
that  follow,  that  I  wish  to  raise  the  missionary 
above  his  fellow-laborers  in  the  gospel  at  home. 
My  object  is  simply  to  state  some  of  the  difficulties 
the  missionary  has  to  contend  with — difficulties 
which  are  peculiar  to  him  ;  and,  if  felt  at  all,  felt 
but  in  an  inferior  degree  by  a  minister  surrounded 
by  a  professing  Christian  population. 

In  the  case  of  the  missionary,  there  are  diffi- 
culties arising  from  the  peculiarity  of  his  situation 
as  a  man  and  a  foreigner.  And  there  are  other 
difficulties  directly  affecting  his  success,  arising1 
from  the  state  of  the  materials  h©  has  to  work  upon. 
To  begin  with  the  first. 

The  epidemic  malady  of  human  nature  is  seen 
in  the  heathen  world   in   all  its   inveteracy.      It 


116  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

there  rages  with  uncontrolled  force,  and  seems  to 
be  beyond  remedy,  as  it  certainly  is  beyond  the 
reach  of  any  means  of  human  devising  for  its  cure. 
In  countries  where  the  influence  of  Christianity 
is  felt,  the  symptoms  of  the  malady  are  often 
greatly  alleviated.  It  puts  on  a  much  less  dis- 
gusting and  alarming  appearance  ;  and  from  this 
mitigated  state  of  the  disease,  arising  from  the 
indirect  and  unacknowledged  effect  of  Chris- 
tianity, have  men  attempted  to  gather  an  argu- 
ment to  discredit  Christianity  itself,  and  to  falsify 
its  declarations  as  to  the  reality  and  extent  of  the 
evil  it  proposes  to  cure.  The  gospel  has  silently 
and  unperceived  raised  the  tone  of  morals,  sof- 
tened the  aspect  of  society,  brought  virtuous  prin- 
ciples and  actions  into  general  credit  and  honor, 
and  fostered  the  principles  of  benevolence  and 
universal  philanthropy,  even  where  it  has  not 
gained  access  to  the  heart,  and  produced  its  full 
effect  in  the  transformation  of  the  whole  cha- 
racter. There  are  many  who  are  themselves 
constrained  within  the  bounds  of  decency,  and  who 
have  acquired  habits  of  moral  propriety,  because 
they  have  been  trained  up  where  Christianity  has 
made  a  character  for  virtue  and  decorum  valu- 
able ;  who  turn  this  very  effect  into  a  weapon 
against  Christianity  itself.  Because  they  are  not 
given  up  to  unrestrained  licentiousness — because 
passion,  in  all  its  malignity,  and  vice,  in  all  its 
deformity,  does  not  characterize  them — they  come 
to  the  flattering  conclusion  that  they  are  whole 
and  need  not  a  physician.  They  spurn  at  the 
Bible  when  it  addresses  them  as  sick — as  "  poor, 
and  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  blind,  and 
naked,"  with  respect  to  all  moral  worth  in  the 
eight   of   God.       Whereas    it    is    owing    to    the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  H7 

indirect  effects  of  Christianity,  operating  in  the 
way  now  stated,  that  the  outbreaking^  of  corrup- 
tion in  them  have  been  prevented.  Yet  because 
Christianity  has  done  this  for  them,  they  repay  the 
favor  by  denying  its  truth  ;  because  it  has  taught 
them  to  cover  up  the  more  offensive  marks  of  their 
depraved  nature,  they  deny  that  they  are  under 
the  infection  of  depravity  at  all. 

But  in  the  heathen  world  there  is  less  room  for 
this  self-deception.  There  is  little  or  nothing 
there  to  mitigate  the  violence  of  the  moral  dis- 
order. There  all  the  symptoms  of  confirmed,  in- 
veterate, deep-rooted  disease,  are  obvious  to  every 
eye  ;  and  this  circumstance  also  adds  greatly  to 
the  difficulty  of  effecting  the  cure.  To  carry  on 
the  allusion,  I  might  say  that  the  missionary  there 
appears  as  a  physician  who  pretends  to  have  an 
invaluable  remedy  for  the  general  disease  ;  but 
assures  those  who  are  afflicted  by  it,  that  while 
upon  trial  they  shall  assuredly  prove  its  sovereign 
virtue,  they  must  ever  afterwards  observe  a  strict 
regimen,  breaking  off  all  the  excesses  in  which 
they  once  indulged  ;  but  that  this,  by  the  con- 
tinued effect  of  the  same  powerful  antidote  to 
their  universal  malady,  will  be  rendered  easy  and 
delightful,  and  by  no  means  so  grievous  a  restraint 
as  they  now  imagine.  Thus  he  makes  known  his 
benevolent  purpose  ;  but  the  people,  though  they 
cannot  deny  the  existence  of  the  disease,  are  pos- 
sessed of  the  notion  that  it  is  by  no  means  of  so 
malignant  a  character  as  he  would  represent — 
that  they  they  have  the  means  of  cure  in  their  own 
hand — that  their  own  physicians  know  cheap  and 
easy  methods  of  preventing  its  bad  effects,  while 
his  are  irksome  in  the  extreme— such  as  theytwill 
never  submit  to — and  that  they  will  rather  die 
10 


118  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

than  use  them.  Interest  and  passion,  and  love  of 
all  that  is  evil,  will  combine  to  scout  the  pretenxied 
dealer ;  and  perhaps  the  diseased  state  of  his  own 
countrymen  will  be  pointed  at  as  proof  of  the 
inefficacy  of  his  medicine,  and  the  falsehood  of  all 
his  pretensions. 

There  are  difficulties  in  the  way  of  success 
arising  from  the  moral  state  of  the  people.  But 
they  are  not  insuperable,  because  the  gospel  is 
mighty  through  God,  to  pull  down  the  strong 
holds  of  Satan.  Have  we  not  seen  that  the 
strongest  and  proudest  bulwarks,  by  sinners  deemed 
impregnable,  have  fallen  down  flat  before  the 
sound  of  the  gospel,  as  did  the  walls  of  Jericho 
by  means  apparently  as  contemptible  ?  Even  in 
circumstances  deemed  the  most  favorable,  nothing 
less  than  the  exertion  of  the  same  almighty  power 
could  effect  the  overthrow  of  Satan's-  empire  in  the 
soul  j  and  in  the  most  unfavorable,  nothing  more 
is  necessary.  But  the  state  of  a  people  charac- 
terized by  an  universal  degradation  of  feeling, 
sentiment,  and  practice^ — exhibits  the  general  dif- 
ficulty under  a  most  discouraging  aspect,  and 
requires  on  the  part  of  the  men  who  would 
attempt  to  raise  them  from  their  moral  prostration 
to  the  level  upon  which  Christianity  places  its  dis- 
ciples, strong  faith,  and  fervent  zeal,  and  unwearied 
patience,  and  persevering  diligence,  and,  as  the 
life  of  all  other  duties,  and  the  sustainer  of  all 
other  right  dispositions — a  spirit  of  prayer.  These 
qualities  and  graces  are  required  in  every  minister, 
but  missionaries  should  possess  them  in  a  sevenfold 
degree. 

To  attempt  a  full  illustration  of  the  difficulties 
of  the  missionary  work  would  neither  be  a  pleasing 
nor  a  profitable  task.     Many  of  the  specific  forms 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  J 19 

which  the  depravity  of  the  heart  assumes  in  heathen 
countries  are  local,  and  others  are  temporary — such 
as  caste  in  Indian  and  contempt  of  all  people  but 
themselves,  and  of  all  customs  but  their  own,  in 
China.  But  passing  these,  I  shall  just  notice  one 
or  two  things  as  specimens  of  the  outworks  which, 
in  many  parts  of  the  heathen  world,  protect  the 
empire  of  Satan,  established  there,  from  the  threat- 
ened invasion  of  Christian  missionaries.  The  po- 
litical relations  of  pagan  countries,  the  civil  condition 
of  the  people,  and  the  whole  structure  of  society 
present  so  many  points  of  resistance  to  every  attempt 
to  make  an  inroad  upon  them.  Their  religion,  or  if 
you  will,  their  superstition,  and  their  civil  polity,  are 
in  many  instances  so  interwoven,  that  the  one  cannot 
tie  assailed  without  striking  a  blow  at  the  other. 
The  sovereigns  and  chiefs  of  many  pagan  nations 
are  the  spiritual  as  well  as  the  civil  heads  of  the 
community,  and  to  interfere  with  the  religion  of 
the  state  is  to  touch  their  prerogative.  It  is  accord- 
ingly found,  that  where  the  king  or  the  powers  of 
the  state  are  hostile  to  missionaries,  they  can  do 
little  or  nothing.  Tiiey  can  neither  obtain  a  foot- 
ing in  the  country,  nor  if  they  did,  would  they  be 
long  able  to  maintain  it.  Witness  in  illustration 
of  this  the  recent  history  of  the  Burman  mission. 
It  is  therefore  to  be  considered  one  of  the  favor- 
able signs  of  the  present  day,  that  the  rulers  of 
several  heathen  countries  to  which  missionaries 
have  been  sent,  have  given  thern  a  cordial  welcome, 
and  promised  them  continued  countenance  and  sup- 
port. Whatever  the  immediate  views  or  motives 
may  be  that  lead  to  such  conduct,  we  ought  de- 
voutly to  -ascribe  praise  to  God  who  holds  the 
hearts  of  kings  in  his  hands,  for  disposing  them  to 
give  his  servants  liberty  to  enter  their  dominions. 


120  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

As  the  spiritual  power  vested  in  their  hands  ren- 
ders it  next  to  hopeless  to  attempt,  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  their  people  without  their  sanction,  so  their 
favor  is  proportionably  to  be  desired,  and  ought 
to  be  cultivated  by  all  proper  means.  "  The  king's 
favor  is  as  dew  upon  the  grass  ;"  and  we  ought  to 
pray  for  it,  and  give  thanks  for  it  to  Him  who 
gives  both  the  dew  and  the  rain. 

I  am  tempted  here  to  digress  still  further  from 
the  point  in  hand,  in  order  to  notice  a  silly  outcry 
raised  by  a  certain  class  of  professors  against  the 
conductors  of  Bible  and  Missionary  Societies.  They 
are  branded  as  spiritual  parasites,  because  they 
seek  and  put  a  value  on  the  patronage  of  princes 
and  men  in  power,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  as  if 
they  were  fawning  upon  the  great  from  a  mean 
ambition  of  being  brought  into  notice,  and  of  hav- 
ing their  cause  dignified  by  a  sort  of  connection 
with  high  sounding  names.  Were  this  the  spirit  of 
those  societies,  or  these  the  only  ends  to  be  gained 
by  such  alliances,  or  were  the  smiles  of  kings  and 
potentates  to  be  purchased  at  the  expense  of  prin- 
ciple, I  should  be. one  of  the  first  to  reprobate  their 
conduct.  But  I  think  that  not  charity  merely,  but 
fact  and  experience,  should  by  this  time  have 
taught  those  who  are  so  ready  to  find  fault,  that 
more  honorable  and  disinterested  motives  have 
operated  both  on  the  part  of  the  seekers  and  the 
bestowers  of  royal  and  noble  patronage ;  and  that 
benefits,  more  unequivocal  and  substantial  than  the 
mere  credit  of  a  name,  have  resulted  from  such  per- 
sonages being  induced  to  identify  themselves  with 
the  best  of  causes  : — a  cause  which  cannot  derive 
dignity  from  the  highest  of  its  promoters,  but  which 
exalts  the  humblest  of  its  friends  to  the  rank  of  a 
benefactor  of  the  race. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  121 

It  is  easy,  however,  to  expect  too  much  from  men 
of  high  degree  5  but  this  is  a  mistake  which  soon 
corrects  itself;  for,  after  all  the  aid  the  highest  and 
most  powerful  upon  earth  can  lend  to  the  labors 
of  missionaries,  the  great  and  radical  difficulties  of 
the  work  remain  behind.  Kings  themselves  can  do 
nothing  more  than  remove  the  obstacles  in  limine. 
To  this  their  power  may  extend  ;  farther  it  cannot 
go:  and  if  their  influence  in  any  case  be  exerted  in 
favor  of  the  cause  of  God,  it  becomes  its  friends 
thankfully  and  wisely  to  ayail  themselves  of  it, 
giving  God  the  praise, 

The  heathen  priesthood  is  an  army  in  battle  array 
with  Satan  at  their  bead,  ready  to  obstruct,  at 
every  step,  the  progress  of  the  servants  of  the  Prince 
of  Peace.  The  influence  the  minions  of  the  popu- 
lar superstition  exercise  over  all  classes  of  the 
community  makes  them  formidable  in  the  highest 
degree.  They  have  the  passions,  prejudices,  and 
supposed  interests  of  the  people  leagued  on  their 
side ;  and  they  employ  force,  fraud,  or  chicanery, 
as  suits  them  best,  to  subvert  the  designs  of  the 
missionary.  The  weapons  of  their  warfare  are  car- 
nal, and  they  are  skilful  in  the  use  of  them.  And 
even  when  circumstances  restrain  them  within  the 
bounds  of  outward  respect  for  the  servants  of  God, 
the  most  deadly  animosity  is  raging  in  their  hearts. 

They  know  also  how  to  infuse  the  venom  of 
malice  into  the  minds  of  the  people — and  they  do 
it  sometimes  unnoticed  and  unsuspected.  How 
often  have  missionaries  sowed  the  seed,  and  with 
such  flattering  appearances  of  not  having  labored 
in  vain,  that  they  anticipated  with  joy  the  harvest, 
till  it  was  discovered  that  some  emissaries  of  Satan 
in  the  form  of  priests,  like  the  fowls  in  the  parable, 
*  came  and  devoured  it  up."  They  "  catch  away" 
10* 


122  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

what  is  sown  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  would 
effectually  frustrate  all  the  sower's  hopes  of  reap- 
ing the  harvest,  if  it  did  not  now  and  then  appear 
that  God  has  prepared  the  hearts  of  some  and 
made  them  good  ground  ;  so  that  in  spite  of  all 
enemies,  and  to  the  surprise  and  joy  of  the  la- 
borer, "  the  seed  springs  and  grows  he  knows  not 
how." 

There  is  another  class  of  difficulties  connected 
with  the  missionary  being  situated  as  a  foreigner, 
comparatively  ignorant  of  the  language  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  still  farther  separated  from  them  by  the 
difference  between  his  habits,  manners,  &c.  and 
theirs.  The  operation  of  these  circumstances,  how- 
ever, is  different  in  different  places,  and  will  be  as 
variously  felt  by  missionaries  as  the  constitution 
and  character  of  the  individuals  are  various.  In 
some  cases  the  circumstance  of  a  missionary  being 
a  foreigner  gives  him  a  kind  of  superiority  over 
the  people  ;  but  in  other  cases  the  very  reverse. 
Again,  as  to  the  contrariety  of  the  missionary's 
habits,  &c.  to  those  of  the  people  among  whom  he 
labors — his  being  under  the  necessity  of  having 
constant  intercourse  with  them — his  being  much 
engaged  in  secular  concerns,  &c. ;  such  things  will 
be  regarded  just  as  the  diversity  of  character 
makes  them  disagreeable  or  otherwise  ;  what  is  to 
one  man  a  weariness  of  the  flesh  and  an  act  of 
positive  self-denial,  may  in  another  man,  differently 
constituted,  be  perfectly  according  to  his  taste,  and 
a  pleasure  rather  \han  a  task. 

Upon  the  whole,  however,  the  life  of  most  mis- 
sionaries implies  a  variety  of  duties,  little  conso- 
nant with  the  general  taste  and  habits  of  such  men 
as  should  be  encouraged  to  become  missionaries  ; 
and    this,  among    other  reasons,   confirms   me    in 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  123 

the  opinion  that  missionary  undertakings  should  be 
planned  so  as  to  admit  of  a  division  of  labors  at 
every  station.  In  other  words,  that  there  should 
be  several  missionaries  together.  By  this  means 
they  can  divide  the  departments  of  general  man- 
agement, public  teaching,  the  duties  of  the  study, 
of  the  seminary  for  native  youth,  of  the  printing 
office,  &c.  so  as  to  suit  best  the  characters  and 
qualifications  that  may  be  found  among  them. 
Nor  is  such  an  arrangement  recommended  merely 
on  the  principle  of  studying  the  personal  comfort 
of  the  missionary  in  his  work,  but  the  real  and 
effectual  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  work 
itself  in  all  its  various  branches.  Who  does  not 
know  that  how  conscientious  and  devoted  soever 
any  man  may  be,  there  is  perhaps  a  particular  line 
of  duty  for  which  his  turn  of  mind  less  suits  him, 
and  which  therefore  is  a  burden  and  a  grievance  ; 
while  there  is  another  line  of  duty  which  better 
accords  with  his  taste,  in  which  he  engages  with 
more  heart,  and  consequently  with  a  better  pros- 
pect of  being  in  that  department  an  efficient  and 
successful  laborer.  And  no  one  surely  will  ques- 
tion the  wisdom  of  acting  upon  this  principle,  and 
giving  to  each  missionary,  as  far  as  circumstances 
will  admit,  that  work  to  do,  which  he  will  perform 
with  the  greatest  comfort  to  himself  and  advantage 
to  the  cause. 

But,  to  gather  up  the  substance  of  this  rambling 
letter.  The  missionary  has  to  contend  with  cer- 
tain difficulties,  not  felt  at  all,  or, 'but  in  an  inferior 
degree,  by  the  minister  at  home.  The  destitution 
of  moral  principle — the  inveteracy  of  vicious  habits, 
sanctioned  and  strengthened  by  the  reigning  super- 
stition— the  aversion  to  Christianity  as  a  new  reli- 
gion and  a  foreign  religion,  independently  of  its 


124  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

own  internal  character,  as  so  opposed  to  all  the 
corrupt  propensities  of  man — the  missionary's  de- 
pendence on  the  will  of  heathen  princes  and  rulers 
for  liberty  of  access  to  the  people — the  opposition 
made  by  an  interested  and  wicked  heathen  priest- 
hood— the  missionary's  difficulties  as  a  foreigner — 
as  a  Christian  among  a  heathen  people — as  a  man 
accustomed  to  retirement,  and  requiring  it  for  the 
performance  of  some  of  the  most  important  branches 
of  his  work,  but  placed  in  a  sphere  of  active 
exertion,  the  management  of  secular  concerns 
demanding  a  great  share  of  his  attention,  and  con- 
suming much  of  his  time, — these  and  other  things 
more  or  less  felt  by  all  missionaries,  show,  that 
although  there  is  an  analogy  between  the  office  of 
a  minister  at  home  and  the  charge  of  a  missionary 
abroad,  there  are  also  considerable  points  of  dif- 
ference— that  while  they  have  some  duties  and 
trials  in  common,  there  are  other  arduous  duties, 
and  not  a  few  hardships  and  perils,  which  are  in  a 
great  measure  peculiar  to  the  missionary. 

My  design  in  stating  these  things  so  circumstan- 
tially is  to  give  you  a  more  distinct  view  of  the 
missionary  work.  The  best  way  to  judge  of  two 
objects  supposed  to  be  nearly  of  the  same  color, 
is  to  place  them  side  by  side,  and  then,  although 
both  may  be  green  or  yellow,  their  juxta-position 
will  discover  to  you  a  much  greater  difference  of 
shade  than  was  before  suspected. 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  1<>5 

LETTER   VII. 

ON    LOW    VIEWS    OF    THE    MISSIONARY    OFFICE. 

My  dear  Friend, 

In  giving  you  my  thoughts  on  the  character 
and  qualifications  of  missionaries,  I  have  been  dif- 
fuse in  speaking  of  talents  and  acquirements,  while 
I  have  more  briefly  touched  upon  piety — the  posses- 
sion and  exercise  of  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the 
Christian.  You  will  not  attribute  this  to  my  con- 
sidering the  latter  inferior  in  importance  to  the 
former;  but  they  are  less  disputed,  or  rather  not 
disputed  at  all,  while  the  question  of  the  intellectual 
and  literary  character  of  missionaries  has  been 
much  agitated  ;  some  contending  that  missionaries 
should  be  able  men ;  others  that  weak  men  are 
strong  enough.  It  seems  to  me  strange,  that  the 
importance  of  good  intellectual  endowments  should 
be  decried  by  those  who  consider  piety  to  be 
indispensable.  Their  argument  is,  that  it  is  not 
the  great  learning  or  shining  abilities  of  men  that 
will  convert  the  heathen.  But  what  does  this 
argument  prove  ?  It  proves,  among  other  things, 
that  neither  is  piety  requisite  in  a  missionary  ;  for 
it  is  not  the  piety  of  the  preacher  that  is  to  con- 
vert the  heathen,  any  more  than  his  learning.  The 
truth  is,  that  in  every  case  it  is  God  that  giveth 
the  increase.  It  was  so  when  Paul  preached  and 
Apollos  watered.  But  was  the  learning  of  the 
one  acquired  in  the  school  of  Gamaliel,  or  the 
eloquence  of  the  other,  of  no  value  ?  Did  not  they 
consecrate  all  their  talents  to  God ;  and  did  not 
He  make  use  of  these  as  means  adapted  to  the  end 


126  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

of  pulling-  down  the  fabric  of  idolatry  and  building" 
up  the  church  ?  Did  not  they  and  others,  as  wise 
master-builders,  lay  the  foundation,  and  exhibit  to 
all  ages  a  pattern  of  what  they  were  to  build,  and 
howi  and  what  sort  of  workmen  ought  to  be  chosen 
to  carry  on  the  sacred  edifice,  till  it  should  reach 
its  destined  dimensions — its  breadth  and  length 
filling  the  earth,  and  its  top  reaching  to  heaven  ? 
According  to  the  theory  of  some,  God  should  have 
refused  to  give  the  increase  when  Paul  and  Apol- 
los  labored,  lest  the  talent  they  brought  to  the 
performance  of  their  work  should  obscure  the 
lustre  of  his  own  power  and  grace  in  the  effects 
that  followed. 

I  am  well  aware,  at  the  same  time,  that  many 
individuals  of  small  pretensions  to  literature,  and 
not  greatly  distinguished  by  talent,  have  been 
exceedingly  useful  in  the  Lord's  vineyard  both  at 
home  and  abroad.  They  loved  and  served  their 
Master  faithfully,  and  he  honored  them  with 
success,  not  because  they  were  men  of  more  limited 
abilities;  but  although  they  were  so.  I  am  per- 
suaded, that  when  any  such  instance  of  a  man 
of  inferior  talents,  in  the  general  sense  of  the 
expression,  being  rendered  highly  useful  in  his 
sphere,  is  narrowly  examined,  it  will  be  found  that 
he  actually  did  possess  some  specific  qualification 
for  that  very  work  assigned  him,  to  which,  under 
the  blessing  of  God,  his  success  may  be  traced. 

The  case  of  the  Moravians  furnishes  an  apt  illus- 
tration of  my  meaning  ;  and  perhaps  a  short  con- 
sideration of  their  proceedings  may  serve  both  to 
obviate  objections  to  the  view  I  have  attempted  to 
give  of  the  requisites  of  the  missionary  character, 
and  illustrate  the  doctrine  of  the  necessity  of 
adapting  means  to  the  end. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  127 

I  have  represented  piety  as  the  foundation  of  the 
missionary  character.  This  we  may,  without  any 
great  stretch  of  charity,  concede  to  the  Moravian 
missionaries.  I  have  insisted  upon  a  predilection 
for  the  work  as  another  requisite,  and  the  mode  of 
the  admission  and  appointment  of  missionaries 
among  the  United  Brethren  is  a  practical  acknow- 
ledgment of  this  principle.  Good  natural  parts, 
good  temper,  great  practical  Avisdom,  prudence, 
self-denial,  ardent  devotion  to  the  work,  have  also 
been  enumerated  among  the  desirable  qualifica- 
tions, and  I  think  the  numerous  biographies  of 
deceased  Moravian  missionaries,*  as  well  as  the 
communications  from  the  brethren  now  laboring 
among  the  heathen,  prove  that  most  of  them  pos- 
sessed these  excellencies  of  character  in  an  eminent 
degree.  Amidst  all  the  genuine  Christian  simpli- 
city so  admirable  and  so  characteristic  of  these 
worthy  servants  of  Christ,  I  have  been  again  and 
again  gratified  by  the  proofs  their  letters  and  jour- 
nals furnish  of  their  acute  discrimination  of  the 
character  of  the  people  to  whose  conversionf  they 

*  Since  writing  this  page  I  have  turned  to  the  Periodical 
Accounts  of  the  Brethren's  missions,  to  refresh  my  memory 
by  glancing-  at  the  brief  memoirs  they  contain  of  departed 
laborers.  The  part  that  caught  my  eye,  viz.  "  The  Life  of 
David  Zeisbergen/T  exemplifies  what  I  have  said, — great 
quickness  and  decision  of  character,  accompanied  with  a  large 
share  of  prudence  and  zeal,  a  fine  talent  for  languages,  &c. 
were  his  distinguishing  qualities.  Had  I  time  to  search  for 
further  confirmation  of  what  I  have  stated,  it  would  be  easy 
to  select  abundance  from  these  records  of  missionary  exertion. 
See  also  the  accounts  ofT.  S.  Schuman. — Per.  Ace.  No.  103. 

f  This  word  conversion  is  used  by  the  Moravians  in  a  sense 
which  has  an  odd  effect  upon  an  English  ear.  They  seem 
to  mean  nothing  more  by  it  in  their  application  of  it  to  the 
heathen,  than  the  circumstance  of  becoming  a  scholar  or 
catechumen.    Thus  the  phrase  often  occurs  in  their  journals, 


128  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

have  devoted  themselves.  How  wisely  and  cir- 
cumspectly they  deal  with  them — how  well  they 
know  the  heavenly  art  of  winning  and  ruling  them 
— gaining  the  entire  command  of  their  converts, 
while  they  make  themselves  more  beloved  as 
fathers  and  friends  than  feared  as  masters.  Nor  is 
the  charming  naivete  and  happy  Christian  cheerful- 
ness of  the  female  part  of  their  communities  less 
worthy  of  notice,  as  qualities  of  great  priceNn  such 
situations  as  they  fill.  If  occasionally  passages  in 
the  brethren's  letters  or  journals  may  be  met  vuth 
that  betray  superficial  knowledge,  or  the  substitu- 
tion of  warmth  of  pious  feeling  for  soundness  of 
judgment,  many  paragraphs  might  be  pointed  out 
indicative  of  their  quick  perception,  sagacity,  and 
good  common  sense. 

I  am  far  from  approving  some  things  in  the 
management  of  their  communities  (e.  g.  their  regu- 
lations as  to  marriage  and  single  life),  and  I  am 
not  blind  to  some  defects  that  adhere  to  their 
system  ;  nor  can  I  admire  the  cant  phrases  pecu- 
liar to  the  sect,  plentifully  scattered  over  the  pages 
of  their  publications  ;  but  they  hold  up  a  pattern  to 
the  world  of  the  unobtrusive  but  mighty  energies 
of  the  Christian  character.  If  their  piety  and  zeal 
have  not  been  made  to  shine  out  as  in  combination 
with  superior  talent,  it  has  been  because  their 
talents,  their  whole  hearts  and  souls  have  been 
devoted  to  the  accomplishment  of  one  thing — the 

that  such  an  one  desired  to  be  convened,  i.  e.  to  come  under 
instruction.  They  of  course  understand  that  a  farther  and 
more  important  change  must  take  place  before  this  heathen 
disciple  becomes  a  Christian — and  their  manner  of  proceHure 
shows  it,  for  such  are  not  admitted  to  Christian  privileges  till 
proof  is  obtained  of  their  sincere  belief  and  profession  of  the 
truth. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  129 

conversion  of  the  heathen,  and  that  chiefly  by- 
patient  and  persevering1  oral  instruction.  To  this 
they  have  directed  their  energies,  and  we  know 
with  what  success.  They  have  not  astonished  us 
by  new  discoveries — by  deep  researches  into  na- 
ture— they  have  not  expatiated  on  the  fields  of 
philosophy  and  science,  but  they  have  solved 
some  of  the  most  interesting  problems  in  the  science 
of  human  nature,  by  showing  what  the  Esquimaux, 
the  Cherokee,  and  the  Hottentot  can  be  made, 
under  the  transforming  "  word  of  the  cross." 

But  if  we  advert  to  the  pretensions  of  the  mis- 
sionaries in  question  to  general  learning,  here  I 
believe  they  will  be  found  defective  ;  and  to  their 
deficiency  in  this  point  perhaps  is  to  be  attributed 
their  having  done  so  little  in  the  way  of  translating 
the  Scriptures  and  other  books,  and  introducing 
generally  the  knowledge  of  letters  among  their 
congregations  gathered  from  among  the  heathen. 
Besides,  as  if  conscious  of  their  inability  in  this 
respect,  the  fields  of  exertion  they  have  chosen  are 
the  very  spots  where  the  want  of  literary  acquire- 
ments would  be  least  felt.  Their  Greenlanders, 
&c.  have  no  books  or  learning  of  their  own,  like 
the  Hindoos,  Chinese,  and  other  pagan  nations, 
high  in  the  scale  of  general  improvement,  skilful 
in  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  and  among  whom 
learning  raises  its  possessor  to  a  proud  elevation 
above  the  unlettered  multitude  ;  not  but  that  learn- 
ing might  be  turned  to  good  account  in  Labrador 
or  South  Africa,  but  the  want  of  it  may  there  be 
more  readily  dispensed  with  than  at  Benares  or 
Serampore. 

It  is  true,  that  God  employs  the  foolish  things 
of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise  ;  "  and  God 
hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  con- 
11 


130  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

found  the  things  which  are  mighty ;  and  base 
things  of  the  world  and  things  which  are  despised 
hath  God  chosen  ;  yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to 
bring  to  nought  things  that  are."  And  there  have 
been  many  striking  illustrations  of  this  from  the 
days  of  the  apostles  to  the  present  time.  Bat  it  is 
easy  to  overstrain  such  passages  in  their  applica- 
tion to  every  department  of  the  work  of  God ;  and 
they  will  be  found  to  have  utterly  mistaken  the 
meaning  of  such  declarations,  who  think  them- 
selves thereby  warranted  to  act  as  if  the  excellen- 
cies of  character  which  God  has  bestowed  upon 
individuals,  and  the  height  of  acquirement  in 
knowledge  human  and  divine,  which,  by  his  bles- 
sing, they  have  reached,  were  talents  of  no  value, 
and  of  no  use  in  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel — as 
if  miracles  were  to  be  expected  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  work  carried  on  by  instruments  physi- 
cally and  intellectually  (and  why  not  also  morally!) 
disqualified  for  the  task — as  if  it  were  expected 
that  men  should  successfully  study  languages 
without  any  talents  for  philology,  or  make  trans- 
lations of  the  Scriptures  into  a  foreign  language 
without  being  able  to  distinguish  things  that  differ 
in  their  own — or  feel  the  difficult  and  delicate 
situation  of  a  Christian  missionary,  without  being 
possessed  of  an  ordinary  measure  of  discretion  in 
ordinary  affairs.  It  may  be  allowable  to  interpret 
the  text  above  quoted  as  countenancing  such  views 
when  the  gift  of  tongues — of  prophecy — of  dis- 
cerning of  spirits — of  healing,  &,c.  are  restored  to 
the  church.  But  till  then  it  will  be  a  wiser  course^ 
to  seek  the  blessing  of  God  to  crown  the  enx- 
ployment  of  the  best  means  we  can  command ; 
and,  after  all,  there  will  be  infinite  room  for  him 
to  manifest  that  "no  flesh  shall  glory  in  his 
presence." 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  131 

When  men  pervert  texts  of  Scripture  to  excuse 
their  supineness  in  the  work  of  God,  as  if  the 
employment  of  human  agency  was  a  tacit  infringe- 
ment of  the  divine  prerogative,  or,  refining  still 
farther,  while  they  employ  means,  yet,  to  preserve 
all  the  glory  to  God,  insist  upon  using  only  such 
as  are  unfit,  protest  against  learning  and  genius, 
and  hail  imbecility  and  stupidity  as  the  best  quali- 
fications for  that  work  which  is  to  be  performed 
"not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord," — T  say,  when  men  entertain  such 
sentiments,  or  hold  principles  evidently  drawing 
such  conclusions  after  them — and  withal  point  us 
to  the  word  of  God  as  their  authority  ;  it  is  hard 
to  find  language  expressive  enough  to  denote  the 
mischief  of  such  perversions.  The  evil  may  be 
conceived  by  supposing  the  sentiments  to  become 
general,  and  to  be  acted  upon  throughout  the  Chris- 
tian world. 

The  most  strenuous  advocates  for  choosing  men 
fitted*  to  be  ministers  of  the  New  Testament  by 
gifts  as  well  as  by  graces,  know  and  confess  the 
inadequacy  of  all  "  might  and .  power"  without 
•"the  Spirit,"  as  much  as  they  who  are  afraid  of 
suiting  the  means  to  the  end.  The  truth  is  that 
the  power  requisite  to  convert  a  sinner  from  the 
error  of  his  ways,  is  so  infinitely  beyond  all  the 
power  of  human  agency — that  the  mos  excellent 
means  and  the  worst  possible  are  nearly  on  a  level ; 
with  this  difference  however,  that  they  who  use  the 
former  honor  the  command  of  God,  while  the  latter 
hesitate  to  obey,  lest  fit  means  should  prove  too 
efficacious,  and  so  eclipse  the  glory  of  the  work  of 

*  2  Cor.  iii.  6.  "  Who  hath  ixdvucrev  jiued  us  for  being 
miniattrs,"  Sec. 


132  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

the  Spirit ;  or  even  accomplish  the  work  altogether 
without  the  interposition  of  his  agency.  It  is  easy 
to  see  which  of  these  schemes  ascribes  more  glory 
to  God — whether  that  which  consistently  employs 
proper  instruments  at  his  command,  leaving  him  to 
vindicate  his  own  honor,  and  make  it  appear  that 
the  success  depends  not  upon  the  means  but  upon 
Him  who  blesses  them  ;  or  that  which  pretends  to 
be  so  morbidly  jealous  for  -the  display  of  the 
divine  power  of  the  Spirit  in  converting  sinners, 
as  to  employ  instruments  qualified  for  the  work 
assigned  them,  by  the  rule  of  contraries — a  scheme 
which  savors  much  of  the  imbecility  of  understand- 
ing they  so  much  admire. 

If  men  go  forth  in  this  holy  cause  with  a  proud 
reliance  on  their  own  wisdom  and  excellency  of 
speech,  God  will  confound  them  before  their 
enemies,  and  humble  them  till  they  acknowledge 
that  it  is  not  for  man  to  glory  in  his  presence  ;  but 
it  is  possible  that  there  may  be  the  most  heart- 
abasing  conviction  and  confession  that  to  God  be- 
longs all  the  praise,  even  when  the  instrument  has 
been  highly  qualified  and  most  wisely  adapted  for 
the  service  assigned  it.  Such  instruments  Avere 
Martyn  and  Milne,  and  many  more  who  rest  from 
their  labors,  and  whose  works  follow  them.  And 
such  instruments  are  many  who  are  still  laboring 
with  manifest  tokens  of  the  divine  approbation ; 
and  who  will  say  that  the  cause  would  be  better 
served  by  men  less  highly  qualified,  or  that  it  de- 
serves not  and  demands  not  the  best  talents,  and 
the  most  extensive  learning,  and  the  warmest 
piety,  and  the  purest  zeal  the  Christian  world  can 
furnish  ? 

The  man  who  is  himself  learned,  and  yet  decries 
the  advantages  of  learning  to  a  minister  or  a  mis- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  133 

sionary,  only  proves  that  learning  cannot  supply 
the  want  of  common  sense  ;  but  the  illiterate  man 
who  contends  that  learning  is  little  worth,  is  evi- 
dently in  the  predicament  of  speaking  evil  of  that 
which  he  knows  not ;  and  should  he  assume  the 
office  of  an  instructer,  perhaps  he  might  not  deserve 
a  better  character  than  those  who  "  desired  to  be 
teachers  of  the  law,  understanding  neither  what 
they  say  or  whereof  they  affirm." 

But  if  Scripture  is  to  be  quoted  in  defence  of 
doing  nothing,  or  doing  nothing  to  purpose — in 
defence  of  lukewarmness  in  the  cause  of  God,  or  of 
principles  which  would  soon  paralize  every  right 
effort  to  promote  it  *,  I  will  quote  Scripture  also, 
and  ask  what  is  the  import  and  bearing  of  that 
remarkable  saying,  "  the  children  of  this  world 
are,  in  their  generation,  wiser  than  the  children 
of  light  ?"  The  answer  is  this — the  children  of  this 
world  exercise  a  prudent  forecasting  care  in  the 
management  of  their  concerns.  Their  undertakings 
are  planned  wisely,  and  conducted  judiciously. 
They  take  an  enlightened  view  of  what  is  before 
them — foresee  evils — secure  advantages — select 
proper  means — neglect  nothing  conducive  to  suc- 
cess— make  provision  against  future  necessities — 
"  rise  early  and  sit  up  late,  and  eat  the  bread  of 
carefulness  ;"  and  for  all  this  they  are  commended. 
Yea,  an  unjust  steward  is  commended  for  his  wise 
and  crafty  policy  in  making  to  himself  friends 
against  the  time  of  his  approaching  need  of  them. 
But  what  is  the  lesson  the  children  of  light  are  to 
learn  from  this  parable  ?  Not  to  imitate  the  ivorks 
of  the  unjust — but  to  imitate  their  ivisdom — to 
show,  in  the  management  of  their  spiritual  con- 
cerns, equal  address,  and  intelligence,  and  zeal. — 
It  is  as  if  the  divine  Teacher  had  said — a  man  of 
11* 


134  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

this  world,  unjust,  but  wise  and  prudent  in  his 
secular  business,  is  more  to  be  commended  than 
the  spiritual  man  who  acts  as  a  fool  in  all 
that  relates  to  his  own  salvation  and  that  of 
others. 

0  it  is  fearful  to  think  that  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment many  an  unjust  steward,  who  made  himself 
friends  of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness — many 
a  pharisee  who  compassed  sea  and  land  to  make 
one  proselyte — many  a  merchantman,  who,  seek- 
ing the  goodly  pearls  of  time,  visited  in  the  spirit 
of  commercial  enterprise  every  quarter  of  the 
world — shall  rise  up  and  condemn  the  unwise 
conduct,  and  mistaken  policy  of  the  professed 
children  of  light. 

1  will  just  add,  before  closing  this  letter,  that  I 
believe  some  who  talk  lightly  of  the  qualifications 
required  in  a  missionary  to  the  heathen,  are  not 
aware  of  the  conclusions  to  which  their  hypothesis 
leads  ;  but  if  it  proceed  not  in  the  tacit  assumption 
that  God  prefers  weak  instruments  that  his  power 
may  be  more  conspicuously  displayed — and  involve 
not  the  consequences  of  tempting  God,  and  giving 
the  enemy  occasion  to  triumph,  I  have  utterly 
mistaken  the  matter.  I  am,  &c. 


LETTER    VIII. 

ON  THE  QUANTITY  OF  MEANS  EMPLOYED. 

My  dear  Friend, 

I  am  impelled  to  take  up  once  more  the  subject 
which  occupied  the  greater  part  of  my  last  letter  ; 
but  in  a  view  sufficiently  distinct  from  the  former, 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  ]35 

I  hope,  to  screen  me  from  the  imputation  of  giving 
you  a  bare  repetition  of  the  same  sentiments. 

I  endeavored  to  combat  the  notion,  that  for  the 
conversion  of  the  heathen  world  able  men  are  not 
required — that  little  stress  should  be  laid  upon  the 
kind  and  quality  of  means  employed,  since  the 
grand  effect  is  to  be  produced  by  the  power  of 
God. 

It  is  my  purpose  now  to  expose  a  similar  error 
as  to  the  quantity  of  means.  "  No  matter," 
say  some,  "though  the  means  we  employ  be  in- 
adequate in  extent,  as  well  as  humble  in  quality, 
according  to  human  reckoning ;  our  handfull  of 
plain  unpretending  missionaries  will  be  sufficient 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  whole  undertaking 
if  the  hand  of  God  be  with  them  ;  and  it  may  be 
confidently  hoped,  that  he  will  take  occasion  from 
the  circumstance  of  their  weakness  to  manifest  his 
own  power,  and  show  that  the  work  is  not  man's 
but  his,  and  his  the  glory  of  accomplishing  it." 

The  pious  sound  of  such  words  is  imposing,  and 
they  pass  for  solid  argument  with  many  who  feel  as 
if  it  would  savor  of  profaneness  to  question  the 
correctness  of  the  views  that  dictate  such  speeches. 
While  with  others,  this  convenient  view  of  the 
matter  seems  to  keep  all  quiet  in  the  inner  cham- 
ber of  conscience,  and  hushes  an  occasional  unwel- 
come whisper  that  Ave  are  not  doing  all  we  can,  nor 
exerting  ourselves  as  the  mighty  extent  of  the 
work  demands. 

Let  the  question,  however,  obtain  a  fair  hearing. 
Were  I  to  come  in  contact  with  an  individual  who 
disapproves  of  attaching  so  much  importance  to 
ft  means,  I  would  encourage  him  to  the  discussion, 
by  the  assurance  that  if  his  be  really  the  right 
view  of  the  matter,  missionary  societies  and  the 


136  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Christian  public  at  large  may  derive  great  advan- 
tage from  the  adoption  of  it ;  for  it  will  prove  that 
upon  his  principles  instead  of  too  little  being  at- 
tempted and  accomplished  in  the  way  of  using 
means,  too  much  is  done  already.  Missionary  so- 
cieties need  not  proceed  any  longer  in  the  selection 
of  men  for  actual  service  in  the  field  of  missionary 
enterprize  on  the  principle  of  appointing  only  men 
fit  for  their  work,  and  in  such  numbers  as  to  bear 
something  like  an  adequate  proportion  to  the 
extent  of  the  field.  The  directors  of  such  socie- 
ties have  sometimes,  from  the  scarcity  of  laborers 
perhaps,  been  compelled  to  send  forth  men  compa- 
ratively unfit,  according  to  the  common  idea  of  what 
fitness  means  ;  but  such  men  were  the  best  and 
most  desirable  instruments  they  could  possibly 
appoint ;  and  now  they  may  save  themselves  much 
expense  and  trouble  in  fitting  missionaries,  by  pre- 
paratory study,  &c.  since  the  laborers  employed 
cannot  be  too  weak  and  too  ignorant.  Besides, 
they  may  now  very  safely  relax  in  their  exertions 
to  increase  the  number  of  their  agents  either  for 
strengthening  existing  missions  or  fur  forming  new 
ones ;  for  the  truth  is,  there  are  too  many  already 
in  the  work.  Missionary  societies  have  already 
gone  too  far :  they  should  have  been  contented  to 
employ  perhaps  a  dozen  or  a  score  of  plain  simple 
men  with  the  Bible  in  their  hands.  Nothing  more 
should  be  attempted,  if  we  would  give  God  room 
for  the  display  of  the  irresistible  force  of  his  arm 
in  overthrowing  the  kingdom  of  the  enemy,  with- 
out the  might  and  power  of  man.*     I  really  feel 

*  The  worse  and  fewer  the  means  we  use  so  much  the  bet- 
ter. Numerical  force  and  intellectual  and  moral  power  are 
of  no  value,  or  worse  than  none  ;  for  God  can  equally  effect 
his  own  purposes  by  many  or  by  few. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  137 

reluctant  to  put  down  in  words  the  monstrous  per- 
versions of  Scripture,  and  almost  blasphemous  con- 
clusions to  which  this  insidious  notion  leads.  I 
am  far  from  supposing  that  all  who  disapprove  of 
the  idea  of  men-made  missionaries  and  ministers,  as 
they  are  scornfully  termed,  actually  carry  their 
theory  so  far,  that  they  must,  to  be  consistent, 
either  abandon  their  principle,  or  submit  to  be 
charged  with  the  consequences  of  it.  I  have  my- 
self heard  remarks  made  in  a  captious,  sarcastic 
way  of  the  exertions  of  modern  missionary  socie- 
ties, as  if  by  bustle  and  ado  about  preparing  and 
sending  out  so  many  missionaries,  they  thought  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  could  not  come  without  their 
helping  hand,  and  so  on.  Now,  if  people  will  take 
refuge  in  such  a  position  as  that  we  are  now  con- 
sidering, it  is  but  fair  to  show  them  its  insecurity — 
that  it  can  neither  endure  the  scrutiny  of  human 
investigation,  nor  will  it  avail  them  when  God  shall 
bring  every  work  into  judgment. 

But  it  is  time  to  turn  to  a  different  view  of 
the  subject.  If  so  extravagant  a  sentiment  is 
untenable  ;  if  it  is  absurd,  that  means  are  to  be 
approved  in  proportion  to  their  unsuitableness  and 
insignificance;  if  it  is  our  sober  and  decided  judg- 
ment that  means,  both  as  to  quality  and  quantity,  as 
far  proportioned  to  the  work  as  possible,  ought  to 
be  used,  it  will  require  little  argument  to  prove 
that  as  yet  we  have  not  done  enough ;  that  our 
means  still  bear  a  vast  disproportion  to  the  end,  and 
that  increased  efforts  on  every  hand  are  called  for, 
both  to  extend  the  application  of  the  agency  God 
is  pleased  to  employ  for  evangelizing  the  world,  to 
every  kindred  and  tongue,  and  people  and  nation  ; 
and  to  render  the  operations  of  the  missions  already 
established  more  efficient  by  such  additional  sup- 


133  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

port,  by  such  accessions  of  numbers,  piety,  talent, 
and  zeal,  as  shall  prove  that  we  are  in  earnest  in 
the  work. 

Into  this  argument,  however,  I  do  not  enter. 
Much  has  been  ably  said  and  written  upon  it,  and 
could  I  say  anything  more  and  better  than  has 
been  already  said  a  hundred  times,  I  would  gladly 
do  it ;  for,  after  all,  I  fear  the  Christian  world  is 
not  yet  roused  as  it  ought  to  be  to  the  paramount 
claims  of  the  heathen  upon  the  compassion,  nay, 
upon  the  justice  of  their  Christian  brethren.  To 
bestow  the  blessings  of  salvation  upon  sinners  is  an 
act  of  sovereign  mercy  on  the  part  of  God  ;  but  to 
spread  the  knowledge  of  that  salvation  is  matter  of 
impjrative  duty,  of  bare  justice,  on  the  part  of  the 
Christian  world.  And  be  it  remembered,  that, 
while  the  guilt  of  non-performance  lies  heavy 
against  the  professors  of  the  religion  of  Christ  in 
general,  in  the  day  of  judgment  the  neglect  will  be 
charged  home  upon  every  individual  who  has  not 
done  as  he  was  commanded.  "  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,"  is 
the  command  of  Christ — O  !  who  can  calculate  the 
guilt  of  neglecting  to  obey  such  a  command  ! 

But,  in  the  mean  time,  as  the  means  in  actual 
operation  are  comparatively  small,  the  ardor  and 
zeal  of  every  laborer  ought  to  be  so  much  the 
greater.  If  the  number  of  missionaries  that  can 
be  sent  out  to  the  work  must  fall  short  of  the 
necessity  of  the  case,  this  is  an  additional  rea- 
son why  those  who  are  sent  should  be  men  of 
competent  qualifications.  When  a  small  detach- 
ment of  soldiers  are  appointed  to  a  difficult  and 
important  service,  they  should  be  all  picked  men. 
To  commit  such  an  enterprize  to  raw  undisciplined 
recruits  would  be  sure  to   draw  the  public  disap- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  ]  39 

probation  on  all  concerned  ;  but  the  saying  before 
quoted  still  holds  true — "  The  children  of  this  world 
are  in  their  generation  wiser  than  the  children  of 
the  light." 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTER    IX. 

ON   DIFFERENT    MODES    OF    MISSIONARY   OPERATION. 

My  dear  Friend, 

It  is  the  besetting  sin  of  many  theorists  to  take 
a  view  of  their  subject  from  one  point  only.  Hence 
all  that  belongs  to  it  is  seen  under  a  certain  aspect ; 
while,  by  the  simple  process  of  changing  his  posi- 
tion, the  theorist  might  learn  that  his  subject  has 
more  sides  than  one,  and  so  he  might  obtain  the 
means  of  modifying,  correcting,  and  perfecting  his 
vieAvs.  Perhaps  you  think  I  am  guilty  of  this  sin 
in  insisting  so  dogmatically  upon  the  mental  and 
moral  powers  of  missionaries  ;  as  if  the  great  variety 
of  field  did  not  admit,  nay  require,  a  similar 
variety  in  the  character  of  its  cultivators.  I  freely 
grant  that  the  Pagan  and  Mohammedan  world, 
the  great  field  in  question,  presents  a  vast  variety 
of  soil.  There  is  a  wide  disparity  between  the 
intellectual  habits  of  the  learned  Brahmin  and  the 
wild  Caffre — between  the  philosophical  and  mysti- 
cal Soofie,  and  the  x^merican  Indian. — As  the 
ground  is  not  every  where  alike,  the  mode  of  culti- 
vation proper  in  one  of  these  departments  of  the 
field  will  not  be  altogether  adapted  to  another. 
Each  will  require  a  description  of  talent  in   the 


140  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

laborer  suited  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  work. 
One  talent  is  needful  here,  another  talent  is  useful 
there,  and  a  third,  different  from  both  the  former,  is 
required  at  a  third  portion  of  the  field.  The  deduc- 
tion then  from  the  fact  of  the  variety  of  the  work  isr 
that  a  corresponding  diversity  of  talent  must  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  it ;  that  the  laborers  must  be 
located  according  to  their  respective  capabilities  of 
performing  work  of  the  description  required  in  the 
particular  fields  assigned  them  to  cultivate.  But 
you  would  not  infer,  surely,  from  the  circumstance- 
of  the  comparative  learning  and  civilization  of  some 
heathen  countries,  and  the  comparative  rudeness  of 
others,  that  in  the  one  case  laborers  of  good  abili- 
ties are  called  for,  and  in  the  other  laborers  of  nc* 
abilities  at  all,  or  next  to  none.  1  have  yet  to  learn 
where  that  country  is,  and  what  kind  of  people 
inhabit  it,  where  the  work  of  evangelizing  them 
is  so  easy  that  the  weakest  and  "  least  esteemed  in 
the  church"  may  be  entrusted  with  the  accomplish- 
ment of  it. 

Consider  that  with  all  the  acknowledged  variety 
in  the  intellectual  character  and  external  circum- 
stances of  men,  human  nature  is  universally  the 
same  ;  that  it  is  found  in  all  the.  inveteracy  of  its 
enmity  against  God,  and  hatred  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness from  the  line  to  the  pole.  And  this — 
this  in  all  the  various  dresses  it  wears,  is  the  enemy 
the  missionary  has  to  encounter  and  overcome. 
Human  depravity  is  at  the  foundation  of  all  the 
opposition  made  to  his  effbrts-^and  he  is  only 
successful  in  so  far  as  he  obtains  the  victory  over 
it. 

The  mention  of  human  depravity  brings  us  then 
to  the  very  essence  of  the  difficulty  of  the  mission- 
ary work.    Were  it  not  for  this  the  ministry  of  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  141 

Gospel  among  the  heathen  would  be  as  easy  and 
pleasant  as  it  is  arduous,  and  often  painfully  dis- 
couraging. But  here  we  see  also  very  clearly  what 
it  is  that  is  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  under- 
taking. It  is  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  all 
grace.  When  the  Spirit  is  shed  forth  abundantly 
the  difficulty  vanishes,  the  word  of  God  has  free 
course  and  is  glorified,  the  flame  spreads,  the  con- 
verts multiply — while  the  missionary  stands  still, 
filled  with  wonder  and  gratitude,  and  beholds  the 
salvation  of  God.  He  sees  that  the  work  is  carried 
on  by  an  arm  more  powerful  than  his,  he  feels 
his  own  insignificance  and  gives  all  the  glory  to 
God. 

The  representation  of  the  subject,  perhaps  you 
think,  militates  against  the  general  strain  of  my 
letters,  inasmuch  as  when  the  Spirit  of  God  de- 
scends upon  the  missionary  fields,  the  characters 
and  talents  of  the  laborers  will  appear  to  be  of 
little  account. 

But  I  will  just  ask,  if  it  be  warrantable  to  expect 
such  showers  of  blessing  without  suitable  previous 
preparation  of  the  soil  ?  The  Spirit  of  God  does 
not  descend  like  the  rain  of  heaven  alike  upon  the 
untilled  desert  and  the  cultivated  field.  It  is 
strictly  limited  to  the  extent  of  ground  over  which 
the  hand  of  the  laborer  has  previously  been  in 
operation.  Unless  an  absolute  miracle  be  expected, 
we  must  necessarily  suppose  that  the  Gospel  has 
been  carried  to  the  place,  that  the  knowledge  of  it 
has  been  communicated  to  the  people  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  men ;  implying  on  their  part  the 
previous  study  of  languages,  the  translation  of  the 
Scriptures,  perhaps  the  formation  of  schools,  and 
the  whole  train  of  means  conducted  with  suitable 
care,  wisdom  and  zeal.  And  all  this,  of  course,  by 
12 


142  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

men  competently  qualified  for  their  respective 
labors.  There  is  no  instance  on  record  of  any 
great  spread  of  the  Gospel  either  in  ancient  or 
in  modern  times,  but  in  connection  with  a  system 
of  corresponding1  means,  to  which  God,  as  he  has 
wisely  appointed  them,  is  pleased  to  give  his 
blessing".  And  there  is  no  reason  from  the  nature 
of  the  thing,  or  any  warrant  from  Scripture,  so  far 
as  I  can  see,  to  expect  that  the  future  extension  of 
the  Redeemer's  kingdom  will  be  effected  with- 
out the  intervention  of  human  agency. 

Besides,  when  the  subject  is  viewed  practically, 
it  is  most  evident  that  even  in  the  case  of  a  general 
awakening  of  a  whole  district  or  people  to  the 
concerns  of  religion,  while  the  work  is  confessedly 
the  doing  of  the  Lord,  the  labors  of  ministers  or 
missionaries,  so  far  from  being  superseded,  are  ren- 
dered more  necessary  than  ever.  And  if  there  are 
any  circumstances  which  call  emphatically  for  the 
exercise  of  great  wisdom,  prudence,  firmness,  dis- 
cernment, quick  understanding,  sound  judgment— 
in  a  word,  for  the  best  energies  of  mind  as  well  as 
the  best  affections  of  a  zealous  and  devoted  heart, 
it  is  in  the  time  of  such  a  revival ;  for  then  the  enemy 
is  busiest;  then  the  danger  of  mistake  is  greatest; 
then  the  responsibility  of  the  laborer  is  heaviest ; 
then  the  greatest  good  or  the  greatest  mischief  may 
be  done  ;  then  the  work  may,  humanly  speaking, 
be  either  greatly  promoted  by  the  ability  of  the 
agents,  or  marred  by  their  errors  or  incapacity. 

The  accounts  of  revivals  in  America,  Scotland, 
and  other  places,  and  the  recent  history  of  the 
South  Sea  islands,  will  illustrate  and  confirm  all  I 
have  said. 

But  this  leads  me,  in  further  explanation  of  my 
views,  to  speak  of  the  general  plan  for  conducting 


LETTERS  ON   MISSIONS.  143 

missions  to  the  heathen.     Let  me  then  be  indulged 
with  your  attention  a  little  longer. 

There  are  two  general  methods,  which,  if  pursued 
to  an  adequate  extent,  promise  with  the  blessing  of 
God  to  effect  the  consummation  so  devoutly  to 
be  wished,  the  universal  spread  of  divine  truth 
through  the  world.  The  one  is  the  employment 
of  numerous  able  missionaries,  with  a  host  of  follow- 
ers in  their  train,  as  catechists,  artizans,  printers, 
&c.  to  colonize  heathen  countries  and  introduce  the 
Gospel  with  civilization  as  her  handmaid*  Accord- 
ing to  this  plan  a  very  great  number  of  missionaries 
of  various  descriptions,  must  be  sent  out,  and  vast 
resources  will  be  required  to  support  them.  In 
some  countries  a  colony  of  Christians  might  support 
itself  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  independently  of 
foreign  aid.  But  in  most  instances  the  missionary 
emigrants  would  require  liberal  encouragement  and 
support  from  home,  because  in  the  selection  of 
spots  on  which  to  form  settlements  they  must  be 
guided  as  much  or  more  by  a  regard  to  their  useful- 
ness as  their  temporal  advantage,  conveniency,  or 
comfort.  They  must  inquire,  not  where  they  have 
the  best  prospect  of  succeeding  as  cultivators  of 
the  natural  soil  ;  but  where  they  may  be  most  useful 
in  sowing  the  word  of  God,  and  causing  the  moral 
wilderness  to  flourish  and  bear  fruit.  It  might 
seldom  be  possible  to  combine  these  two  objects, 


*  If  every  school  master  and  artizan  and  agriculturist  is  10  be 
termed  a  missionary,  1  have  no  objection  that  the  name  be 
extended  to  them,  and  in  that  rase  I  concede  that  attainments 
inferior  to  those  i  have  represented  as  necessary  to  the  char- 
acter ol  a  missionary,  using  the  word  in  a  more  restricted  sense, 
may  be  sufficient  But  I  'nave  employed  the  term  missionary  to 
denote  the  principals  of  a  mission,  and  so  understood,  1  humbly 
conceive  the  standard  of  qualifications  has  not  been  raised  too 
hit*. 


144  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

and  therefore  sufficient  provision  should  be  made 
against  the  probable  wants  of  such  settlers,  that 
they  might  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  studying 
their  own  means  of  subsistence  in  the  countries 
where  they  settle,  rather  than  the  means  of  render- 
ing themselves  effective  promoters  of  the  evan- 
gelization of  the  people. 

It  would  be  a  noble  project  if  whole  churches, 
pastors,  and  flocks  were  to  emigrate  to  other  lands, 
and  become  at  once  examples  of  the  power  of  the 
Gospel  and  promulgators  of  its  blessed  truths  to 
the  heathen  nations.  Were  fifty  or  a  hundred 
British  churches  thus  "to  give  themselves  to  the 
Lord,"  and  establish  themselves  in  well  chosen 
spots  in  pagan  countries,  what  might  not  be  expect- 
ed, with  the  blessing  of  God,  from  such  a  measure  ? 
Themselves  strangers  and  pilgrims  upon  earth,  true 
Christians  would  thus  exhibit  more  of  their  own  real 
character,  and  would  enjoy,  it  might  be  confidently 
expected,  in  spiritual  prosperity  an  ample  compen- 
sation for  some  worldly  disadvantages ;  were  the 
little  leaven  thus  to  mingle  itself  through  the  whole 
mass,  how  soon  might  not  the  whole  lump  be  lea- 
vened !  Surely  there  are  many  churches  which  as 
bodies  have  zeal  and  love  and  devotedness  enough, 
if  the  scheme  itself  were  at  all  practicable.  And 
why  is  it  not  ?  The  practicability  of  it  will  appear 
in  different  lights  according  to  the  state  of  mind 
in  which  it  is  contemplated.  Perhaps  if  it  had  been 
proposed  to  the  members  of  the  church  in  Jeru- 
salem to  spread  themselves  through  the  surround- 
ing region,  testifying  to  all  repentance  towards 
God  and  faith  towards  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  there 
might  have  been  many  plausible  objections  started  ; 
but  the  providence  of  God  soon  made  them  glad  to 
adopt  the  measure  which  before  might  seem  im- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  145 

practicable.  When  obliged  to  flee  for  their  lives, 
they  found  other  places  of  abode,  and,  scattered 
among  unbelievers,  had  the  finest  opportunities  of 
spreading  the  Gospel,  and  were  no  doubt  enabled  to 
say  in  reference  to  the  persecutions  that  drove 
them  from  Jerusalem,  "  It  is  good  for  us  that  we 
have  been  afflicted."  There  may  be  no  present 
appearances  that  threaten  the  British  churches  with 
a  similar  fate  ;  they  may  not  be  driven  into  exile  :  but 
were  persecution  for  conscience'  sake  to  arise,  what 
would  be  thought  of  the  practicability  of  colonizing 
heathen  countries  ?  And  would  not  this  plan 
afford  the  best  conceivable  means  of  cherishing  and 
bringing  into  notice  promising  talents  for  the  higher 
departments  of  missionary  labor  ?  Would  not  the 
younger  members  of  churches  be  trained  up  and 
excited  to  regard  the  service  of  God  among  the 
heathen  as  a  great  and  most  important  work  ;  and, 
seeing  with  their  own  eyes  the  fields  white  unto 
harvest,  would  they  not  desire  to  become  laborers  ? 

I  will  not  anticipate  objections,  but  to  prevent 
being  misunderstood,  I  would  only  add,  that  it  is  not 
necessarily  supposed  according  to  this  plan  that 
every  individ&al  member  of  a  church,  without  excep- 
tion, should  embark  in  such  an  emigration  ;  some 
from  age,  state  of  health,  &c.  might  be  improper 
persons  to  join  their  brethren  ;  but  with  all  neces- 
sary deductions  the  great  body  of  a  church  might,  I 
am  persuaded,  with  the  prospect  of  doing  incalcula- 
ble good,  thus  go  forth  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
devoted  as  one  man  to  the  projnotion  of  his  glory. 

Do  not  tell  me  that  the  example  of  the  churches 
planted  by  the  apostles,  and  the  exhortations  ad- 
dressed to  them  to  abide  every  man  in  his  own 
calling,  &c.  make  against  the  scheme  now  suggest- 
ed. It  is  true  the  apostles  do  not  enjoin  upon  the 
12* 


146  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

churches  the  duty  of  changing  their  abode  in  order 
to  fix  their  residence  among  a  heathen  population. 
But  why  ?  They  were  planted  in  the  midst  of  the  hea- 
then, they  were  themselves  societies  gathered  from 
the  Pagan  and  Jewish  world,  and  were  on  every 
hand  surrounded  by  those  who  still  continued  in  the 
state  of  darkness  from  which  they  had  been  trans- 
lated. There  was  in  those  days  no  such  thing  as 
a  Christendom,  a  portion  of  the  earth  distinguished 
by  the  general  profession  of  the  religion  of  Christ. 
The  whole  world  was  then,  what  many  parts  of  it 
are  still,  inhabited  by  unbelievers,  with  here  and 
there  a  church  of  Christ  gathered  out  of  the  na- 
tions. The  aim  of  this,  or  any  other  plan  of  mis- 
sionary enterprize,  is  to  bring  the  whole  world  under 
the  denomination  of  Christendom. 

It  has  almost  passed  into  a  proverb,  that  with 
all  the  devotement  of  heart,  and  life,  and  substance 
which  Christ  requires  of  his  disciples,  every  one  is 
not  obliged  personally  to  engage  in  this  work. 
Admitting  the  general  truth,  there  is  at  the  same 
time  reason  to  fear  that  this  convenient  proverb  is 
often  carried  too  far,  and  may  help  to  blind  the 
eyes  of  some  to  their  duty,  suggesting  a  reason  for 
declining  obedience,  which  is  sufficient  or  insuffi- 
cient, according  to  circumstances.  This  is  a  serious 
subject,  and  requires  the  solemn  consideration  of 
every  one  who  calls  Jesus,  Lord  and  Master. 

The  other  general  method  of  conducting  mis- 
sionary operations  is  to  send  forth  a  body  of 
missionaries  who  shall  enter  heathen  coun- 
tries, and  bend  their  strength,  not  so  much  to 
the  mere  raising  of  congregations  of  Christians, 
and  attaching  them  to  the  missionary  settlement, 
as  the  Moravians  do ;  but  rather  direct  their 
resources  with  a  view  to  the  spread  of  Christianity 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  1 47 

through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  aim- 
ing by  apparently  slow  but  effectual  measures  to 
sap  the  foundations  of  the  existing  superstition, 
and  introduce  Christianity  in  its  room,  and  contem- 
plating the  accomplishment  of  this  chiefly  by  the 
agency  of  the  natives  themselves.  With  this  view, 
opening  seminaries  for  the  instruction  of  the  youth, 
training  up  promising  young  men  to  be  teachers  of 
their  countrymen,  making  every  suitable  convert 
an  evangelist ;  at  the  same  time  preparing  versions 
of  the  Scriptures  in  the  vernacular  languages, 
promoting  the  cause  of  general  education,  intro- 
ducing useful  knowledge,  &c.  The  preaching  of 
the  Gospel  directly  to  the  natives,  as  far  as 
practicable,  is  implied  of  course.  What  I  mean 
as  to  the  general  plan  is,  that  the  missionaries  do 
not  confine  themselves  to  the  communication  of 
oral  instruction  as  their  great  and  only  branch  of 
labor. 

These  two  methods  have  each  their  advantages 
and  disadvantages.  The  first  is  the  favorite  of 
some  friends  of  missions,  while  the  second  is 
extolled  by  others  ;  but  it  appears  to  me,  that  either 
the  one  or  the  other  should  be  preferred  according 
to  circumstances.  In  one  country  the  former  may 
be  more  effective,  in  another  the  latter.  And  in  most 
places,  perhaps,  a  system  of  operation  combining 
both,  that  is,  partaking  of  the  first  by  adopting  the 
plan  of  partial  colonizing,  and  of  the  second  by  lay- 
ing hold  of  all  the  advantages  for  carrying  forward 
the  work  to  be  derived  from  the  employment  of 
natives  as  catechists,  &c.  The  same  mission  in 
different  stages  of  its  history  may  also  in  part 
alter  or  modify  the  general  plan  of  its  proce- 
dure :  for  a  mission,  at  first  conducted  wholly  by 
foreign  teachers,  may  in  the  course  of  time,  and 


148  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

after  being  blessed  with  a  measure  of  success,  in 
a  gieat  degree  dispense  with  foreign  aid,  and 
proceed  on  the  plan  of  employing  natives,  till  at 
length,  having  a  sufficiency  of  internal  resources,  it 
mav  be  left  wholly  to  itself, 

I  am;  &c. 


LETTER    X. 

ON   THE    PREFERENCE    DUE    TO    THE    MISSIONARY 
SERVICE. 

My  dear  Friend, 

The  choice  of  a  profession  ranks  among  the 
most  important  acts  of  a  man's  life,  and  most  of  all 
important,  when  the  profession  chosen  is  the  Chris- 
tian ministry.  I  have  already  offered  you  some 
thoughts  upon  the  motives,  good  and  bad,  which 
may  actuate  an  individual  in  determining  to  assume 
the  sacred  character,  I  seem  not,  however,  to  have 
said  all  I  wish  to  say,  and  therefore,  at  the  risk  of 
being  tiresome,  or  even  tautological,  I  must  write 
on,  throwing  myself  upon  your  friendly  indul- 
gence. 

When  a  man  determines  upon  following  any  par- 
ticular line  of  secular  life,  the  chief  questions  res- 
pect the  adaptation  of  his  talents  and  dispositions 
to  the  nature  of  his  proposed  pursuits,  his  prospects 
of  success,  honor  and  comfort.  His  motives,  any 
further  than  his  own  interests  may  be  concerned, 
are  of  little  consequence.  But  when  a  man  pro- 
poses to  make  the  service  of  the   sanctuary   the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  149 

business  of  his  life,  a  most  solemn  and  impartial 
investigation  of  his  motives  ought  to  be  made,  as 
in  the  sight  of  God,  before  he  advances  a  single 
step  ;  as  if  he  is  not,  in  his  own  conscience,  fully 
satisfied  that  his  motives  are  such  as  God  will 
approve,  he  should  relinquish  the  design,  whatever 
his  talents  or  qualifications  in  other  respects 
may  be.  A  physician,  or  lawyer,  need  have 
no  scruples  about  the  exercise  of  his  respec- 
tive functions,  although  he  may  not  be  conscious 
that  a  disinterested  desire  to  promote  the  good 
of  his  patients  or  clients  prompts  him  to  serve 
them  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability.  If  he  per- 
form his  duty,  he  is  worthy  of  his  reward.  To 
obtain  his  living  may  be  the  ultimate  end  of 
his  exercising  his  profession,  and  he  may  honors 
ably  and  consistently  avow  it  to  be  so.  But  if  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  is  not  influenced  by  a  love  to 
the  souls  of  men,  and  a  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God 
in  their  salvation,  he  is  disqualified  in  the  most 
essential  particular  for  his  office.  On  this  account 
it  is,  that  young  men,  whose  minds  are  inclining  to 
the  ministry,  should  be  directed  to  give  this  point 
their  most  attentive  consideration ;  and  if  they 
obtain  proper  satisfaction  of  mind  in  regard  to 
purity  of  motive,  it  will,  in  most  cases,  go  far  to- 
wards determining  their  call  to  the  work. 

Most  young  persons,  whose  rank  in  life  is  such 
that  they  must  think  of  devoting  themselves  to  a 
profession,  find  their  minds  leaning  towards  some 
particular  employment,  which  is  generally  such  as 
their  connections  or  circumstances  render  desirable 
or  expedient ;  and,  consequently,  the  choice  is 
made,  and  the  matter  proceeded  in.  But  many 
young  men  of  piety,  who  have  not  yet  made 
choice  of  a  profession  for  life,   are   apt  to  look 


150  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

upon  all  secular  professions  with  equal  indif- 
ference, or  even  aversion  ;  and  others,  whose  minds 
have  been  brought  under  the  power  of  religion, 
after  their  pursuits  for  life  have  been  entered  upon, 
become  dissatisfied  with  the  employment  to  which 
they  found  themselves  bound.  They  derive  no 
pleasure  from  the  performance  of  the  duties  required 
of  them,  and  long  for  the  moment  when  they  can  dis- 
engage their  hands  and  their  head  from  the  irksome, 
daily  routine  of  their  calling ;  happy  only  when 
they  can  bid  a  short  farewell  to  it,  and  enjoy  the 
society  of  kindred  minds,  or  taste  the  sweets  of 
retirement,  and  indulge  in  their  favorite  exercises, 
undisturbed  and  unknown.  Such  persons  are  apt 
to  look  upon  ministers  as  the  happiest  of  human 
beings.  They  have  little  to  do  with  the  things  of 
the  world;  their  duties  must  be  their  delight,  for 
they  consist  in  studying  the  word  and  the  works  of 
God,  and  speaking  of  them  to  their  people.  Their 
leisure  for  study,  their  opportunities  of  acquiring 
knowledge,  their  advantages  for  self-improvement, 
all  appear  most  desirable  ;  and  the  pious  young 
man,  thus  speculating  upon  the  office  of  the  ministry 
says  with  a  sigh  of  longing  desire,  "  O  that  I 
were  a  minister  !"  Now  all  this  is  a  speculation  of 
selfishness,  and  there  does  not  enter  into  it  a  par- 
ticle of  the  true  motive  that  ought  to  actuate  the 
breast  of  a  servant  of  Christ.  There  may  be 
nothing  inconsistent  with  the  love  of  souls  and  the 
glory  of  God  ;  but  when  views  of  personal  enjoy- 
ment fix  the  choice,  and  take  the  place  of  higher 
considerations  as  principles  of  action,  what  must 
follow  when  experience  shall  have  taught  that 
these  selfish  ends  cannot  be  gratified  ?  What 
shall  bear  up  a  man  in  the  actual  discharge  of 
duties,  which  in  reality  will   be   found,   many   of 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  ]51 

them  at  least,  very  different  as  to  personal  gratifi- 
cation from  the  fancy  picture  the  young  aspirant 
to  the  sacred  office  drew  for  himself?  In  a  word, 
what  shall  he  do  when  his  principles  of  action  fail 
him  ?  But,  perhaps,  if  he  makes  self-gratification 
the  end  of  his  ministry,  he  may  have  his  reward. 

But  I  mast  come  to  the  point  I  have  more  im- 
mediately in  view,  in  bringing  forward  these 
remarks  at  present. 

As  an  individual,  actuated  in  the  manner  above 
described,  will  seek  for  himself  a  station  in  the 
church  squaring  as  much  as  possible  with  his  love 
of  ease,  literary  leisure,  &c. ;  so,  on  the  other 
hand,  one  whose  heart  is  truly  devoted  to  the  work 
of  his  lord  and  master,  will  prefer  that  station 
where  he  has  the  best  prospects  of  real  laborious 
usefulness,  where  he  may  do  most  good  to  souls, 
and  most  extend  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  among 
men. 

In  what  light,  then,  ought  the  several  claims 
of  the  heathen  abroad  and  the  Christian  community 
at  home,  to  appear  to  the  mind  of  a  pious  student 
of  divinity,  or  one  who  wishes  to  become  a  student 
with  a  view  to  the  ministry  ?  and  what  are  we  %& 
make  of  the  fact,  that  there  are  many  hundreds 
of  young  men  of  this  description,  studying  with 
a  view  to  the  pastoral  office  in  Great  Britain,  while 
scarcely  one  individual  is  coming  forward  to  offer 
himself  as  a  missionary  ? 

Is  it  that  they  have  adopted  the  opinion  com- 
bated in  another  letter,  that  persons  of  mean 
talents  are  good  enough  for  missionaries  ?  Is  it 
that  the  young  men  who  crowd  our  academies  and 
universities,  the  nurseries  of  the  church,  think 
their  abilities  too  good  to  be  thrown  away  upon 
the  heathen  ?     Do  they  modestly  leave  it  to  less 


152  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

gifted  brethren,  who  give  no  favorable  augury 
of  becoming  good  preachers,  to  occupy  a  sphere 
abroad,  where  their  deficiencies  may  be  less  felt 
by  themselves,  and  less  observed  by  their  hear- 
ers ?  I  should  be  glad  to  find  a  more  favorable 
explanation  of  the  fact ;  and  I  can  indeed  make  a 
more  charitable  supposition  in  the  case  of  a  few : 
but  how  to  account  for  the  great  bulk  of  aspirants 
to  the  ministry  preferring  home  service,  more 
honorably  to  their  principles  and  motives,  I  confess 
myself  at  a  loss.  It  this  moment  occurs  to  me,  that 
some  may  shelter  themselves  behind  the  example 
of  the  race  of  ministers  of  the  last  century,  who 
seem  to  have  thought  very  little  of  the  duty  of 
practically  and  generally  seeking  the  conversion  of 
the  heathen.  But  without  attempting  to  defend 
or  to  criminate  the  ministers  of  a  former  period, 
it  is  most  manifest  that  those  of  the  present 
have  had  their  attention  drawn  to  the  subject 
in  a  way  unprecedented,  at  least  in  modern  times. 
The  claims  of  the  heathen  have  been  so  pressed 
on  their  notice,  the  actual  state  of  the  heathen 
so  clearly  brought  to  light,  the  practicability  of 
attempting  and  effecting  their  conversion  so 
proved,  the  facilities  so  increased,  that  they  who 
neglect  them  noiv,  are  utterly  without  excuse. 

Do  students  for  the  ministry  really  think  that 
their  services  are  so  much  needed  at  home,  that  to 
go  abroad  would  be,  at  the  best,  a  very  question- 
able course  ?  I  doubt  whether  they  can  think  so. 
Let  me  suppose  a  case  for  the  sake  of  illustration. 
Suppose  the  state  of  a  certain  empire  to  be 
as  follows : — The  rightful  sovereign  in  one 
part  of  his  dominions  is  generally  acknow- 
ledged, his  laws  are  respected,  and  the  great  body 
of  the  people  professing  allegiance  to  his  govern- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  153 

meat,  and  instructed  and  ruled  by  faithful  servants 
of  the  king,  enjoy  peace  and  prosperity.  But  the 
rest  of  the  empire,  all  the  foreign  possessions  of  the 
crown,  all  the  distant  provinces,  are  in  a  state  of 
disaffection  or  open  rebellion  ;  multitudes  of  the 
people  have  utterly  thrown  off  their  allegiance, 
have  chosen  leaders  for  themselves,  and  trample 
on  the  authority  of  their  prince.  The  king,  there- 
fore, desirous  of  reducing  these  misguided  subjects 
to  obedience,  issues  a  proclamation,  inviting  his 
faithful  and  devoted  servants  to  exert  themselves 
to  repress  the  spirit  of  rebellion  wherever  it  may 
be  found ;  to  bring  back  the  rebellious  to  their 
duty  ;  and  not  to  relax  in  their  efforts  till  tran- 
quillity be  universally  restored,  and  the  honor  of 
the  king  and  government  be  every  where  acknow- 
ledged and  supported.  The  king,  however,  depend- 
ing on  the  fidelity  and  attachment  of  those  who 
own  his  sway,  accepts  the  services  of  volunteers 
only,  and  invites  them  to  enrol  themselves  in  his 
name.  Many  do  so,  accordingly,  professing  ardent 
zeal  for  their  king,  and  compassion  for  their  un- 
dutiful  fellow  subjects  ;  but  they  decline  foreign 
service,  where  they  are  most  wanted,  preferring  to 
parade  at  home,  leaving  the  honors  and  dangers 
of  the  field,  where  the  rebels  are  in  arms,  the  field 
of  actual  war,  to  such,  forsooth,  as  may  not  be  able 
to  make  a  respectable  figure  in  their  home  establish- 
ment. There  is  a  numerous  well  appointed  corps 
stationed  where  all  is  quiet;  but  where  the  mass  of 
the  population  is  in  a  state  of  avowed  shameless 
hostility  to  their  rightful  king,  there  is  scarcely  a 
single  man  to  stand  up  for  him  and  his  cause  ;  and 
few  or  none  of  his  volunteer  corps  at  home  have 
the  courage,  or  the  self-denial,  or  the  love  to  their 
13 


154  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

king,  to  face  his  enemies !  I  leave  you  to  apply 
this  parable. 

It  is  a  glory  peculiar  to  the  Christian  system,  that 
its  motives  to  obedience  are  as  powerful  as  its 
precepts  and  doctrines  are  pure  and  heavenly  ;  and 
so  it  is  possessed  of  the  grand  desideratum,  the  want 
of  which  left  the  boasted  ethics  of  heathen  an- 
tiquity essentially  defective.  Their  ethical  sys- 
tems, like  their  celebrated  statues,  were  astonishing 
monuments  of  human  genius ;  but  they  were  life- 
less. But  how  is  this  peculiar  character  of 
Christianity  illustrated  by  its  professors  ?  Does 
their  conduct  demonstrate  that  they  are  governed 
by  a  religion  of  motives  ?  Is  their  performance  of 
the  most  difficult  and  self-denying  duties  it  pre- 
scribes, but  the  means  of  showing  the  power  it  exer- 
cises over  them  ?  or  at  any  rate,  are  there  so  many 
examples  of  this,  that  it  is  no  breach  of  charity  to 
account  for  the  rare  cases  of  neglect  of  duty,  by 
ranking  the  few  who  are  guilty  of  such  neglect 
among  mere  hypocritical  pretenders  to  the  Christian 
name  ? 

The  admission  of  duty  not  followed  up  by 
corresponding  practice  necessarily  proves  one  of 
two  things :  either  that  Christianity  is  deficient  in 
motives,  or  that  the  omission  of  acknowledged 
duty  betrays  a  radical  defect  of  principle.  The 
question  then  with  regard  to  those  who  profess 
Christianity  and  yield  no  practical  obedience  to 
some  one  important  duty,  is  reduced  to  this  alter- 
native. The  influence  of  Christianity  over  its  disci- 
ples is  as  powerless  as  the  systems  of  Aristotle  or 
Epicurus  were  over  theirs;  or,  the  professor  of 
Christianity  who  neglects,  or  deceitfully  compro- 
mises the  duties  it  prescribes,  is  a  hypocrite. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  155 

It  is  easy  to  see  how  these  remarks  bear  upon 
the  duty  of  Christians  to  propagate  the  Gospel.  I 
cannot  conceive  of  a  more  triumphant  proof  of  the 
divinity  of  the  Christian  religion  than  would  be 
furnished  by  its  disciples  being  universally  ani- 
mated with  a  zeal  to  extend  the  knowledge  of  it 
through  the  whole  world — not  such  a  partial  in- 
efficient zeal  as  draws  a  paltry  annual  contribution 
to  a  missionary  society — but  such  a  zeal  as  would 
lay  the  whole  moral  and  mental  energies  of  the 
Christian  world  as  a  consecrated  offering  on  the 
altar  of  God.  Some  Christians  do  all  they  can ; 
and  when  all  Christians  shall  act  as  some  already 
do,  it  will  be  a  happy  omen  for  Christianity  and 
for  the  world.  When  Christians,  instead  of  reply 
ing  to  the  endless  quibbles  of  skeptics  and  heretics, 
shall  rise  up  and  bend  their  whole  efforts  to  make 
the  pagan  world  Christian,  they  will  effectually 
and  for  ever  silence  the  infidel,  and  prove  the 
righteousness  of  the  cause  of  God  and  truth. 

It  is  one  of  the  strangest  things  in  the  world  to 
hear  men  talk  of  the  mysteriousness  of  the  ways  of 
God  in  suffering  so  great  a  portion  of  the  world, 
and  for  so  many  ages,  to  remain  destitute  of  the 
light  of  revelation.  Is  it  not  more  mysterious  that 
God  has  refrained  from  pouring  out  the  fierceness 
of  his  indignation  upon  the  guilty  possessors  of  that 
revelation?  who,  shutting  up  their  bowels  of  com- 
passion from  their  perishing  brethren,  have  falsified 
their  own  profession  of  loving  God  by  living  in  the 
habitual  neglect  of  the  Saviour's  command,  "  Go 
ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature."  Had  no  such  command  been 
given  to  publish  the  remedy  of  God's  providing  for 
the  universal  disease  of  sin  with  all  its  present  and 
future  misery,  men  would  have  been  less  inex- 


156  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 


cusable  ;  but  the  command  vindicates  the  character 
of  God,  and  throws  all  the  guilt  of  keeping  back  the 
sovereign  remedy  for  a  perishing  world  upon  those 
who  were  solemnly  charged  with  the  duty  of  dis- 
pensing it,  and  the  blood  of  all  that  have  perished 
through  their  neglect  will  be  required  at  their 
hands  !  Let  none  think  that  the  system  of  means 
at  present  used  is  at  all  commensurate  with  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  undertaking,  nor  is  there 
yet  room  for  any  to  conclude  that  the  over  zeal  of 
others  will  make  up  for  the  deficiency  of  theirs. 
In  efforts  to  convert  the  world  there  can  be  no 
works  of  supererogation.  The  men  of  this  gene- 
ration are  not  like  children  sitting  in  the  market- 
place and  saying,  "  We  have  piped  unto  you  and  ye 
have  not  danced."  They  expect  to  see  them 
dance  without  being  piped  to  ; — they  wonder  why 
the  world  has  not  been  converted  long  ere  now  ; — 
but  what  is  the  cause  ?  The  Gospel  has  not  been 
preached  to  it.  Speak  not  of  the  decrees  of  God. 
Whatever  be  thought  of  them  they  can  never 
furnish  an  excuse  for  disobeying  the  command  of 
God.  It  has  been  said  that  the  effectual  enlighten- 
ing of  the  world  with  the  beams  of  divine  truth 
must  be  as  independent  of  human  effort  as  the 
rising  of  the  sun.  And  that  is  a  truth  in  its  oAvn 
connection  never  to  be  forgotten,  for  it  is  God's  part 
of  the  work  ;  but  man  has  his  part  assigned  him  to 
perform  likewise — namely,  to  call  upon  the  nations 
to  awake  and  behold  the  light — saying,  "  Arise — 
be  enlightened,  for  thy  light  is  come  and  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee." 

I  have  elsewhere  argued  that  we  may  safely 
leave  God  to  vindicate  his  own  prerogative  to  con- 
vert the  nations  to  himself.  He  will  not  give  his 
glory  to  another,  nor  share  it  with  even  his  most 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  157 

eminent  servants  ;  and  they  have  no  reason  to  fear 
(the  very  idea  is  presumptuous)  that  their  efforts 
will  render  the  power  of  God  less  manifest.  There 
was  trial  made  for  four  thousand  years  of  what  the 
wisdom  of  the  world  could  do  to  improve  human 
nature.  Philosophy  and  civilization,  and  all  the 
resources  of  human  genius  were  expended  without 
effect ;  they  utterly  failed  in  turning  man  from  sin 
to  righteousness,  but  the  "  foolishness  of  God"  ac- 
complished it.  The  preaching  of  the  cross,  de- 
rided by  the  Greek,  and  stumbled  at  by  the  Jew, 
was  the  power  of  God  to  salvation.  But  God  still 
retains  in  his  own  hands  the  prerogative  of  making 
this  doctrine  effectual  to  the  salvation  of  them  that 
hear  it ;  and  only  eternity  perhaps  will  fully  ex- 
plain why  generations  of  missionaries  were  suffered 
to  labor  almost  without  success — why  societies 
and  churches  brought  all  their  energies  to  bear  year 
after  year  upon  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  world 
without  accomplishing  the  object,  except  to  a  very 
limited  extent.  But  one  reason  of  this — if  Ave  may 
without  presumption  suppose  it — may  be,  that  when 
the  Spirit  is  at  length  poured  out  as  floods  upon 
the  dry  ground,  and  nations  are  born  in  a  day,  all 
the  world  may  see  in  that  glorious  advancement  of 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  a  grand  illustration  of  the 
principle,  that  it  is  "  not  of  him  that  willeth,  nor 
of  him  that  runneth,  but  of  God,  who  showeth 
mercy." 

I  am  yours,  &c. 


13* 


158  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 


LETTER   XI. 

ON     MINISTERIAL     FAITHFULNESS     TO     CANDIDATES 
FOR   MISSIONARY    SERVICE. 

My  dear  Friend, 

A  young  man,  whose  mind  is  turning1  toward 
the  ministry  must  think  himself  happy  if  he  enjoys 
the  privilege  of  having  recourse  for  consultation 
and  advice  to  a  judicious  friend ;  and  tutors, 
ministers,  and  intelligent  private  Christians  ought 
to  consider  the  influence  they  may  possess  over  any 
young  person  of  this  description  as  a  valuable 
talent.  It  gives  them  opportunities  of  usefulness 
which  ought  to  be  most  anxiously  improved  ;  for 
the  amount  of  good  they  may  do  in  this  way,  may 
extend  far  beyond  the  immediate  advantage  which 
the  young  friend  or  pupil  may  derive  from  their  at- 
tentions. I  can  scarcely  conceive  of  any  circum- 
stances in  which  the  Christian  solicitude  of  a 
minister  or  tutor  is  likely  to  meet  with  a  richer 
reward  than  when  it  is  employed  in  directing,  en- 
couraging, and  watching  over  one  who  is  aspiring 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  whether  in  a  heathen 
or  Christian  country.  When  a  judicious  Christian 
friend  takes  such  a  young  man  aside,  and  enters 
with  him  into  close,  affectionate  and  instructive 
conversation,  incalculable  is  the  good  that  may 
result  to  the  individual  from  the  views  and  impres- 
sions of  his  future  work  which  he.may  thus  acquire. 
I  believe  it  is  the  complaint,  in  most  cases,  even  of 
the  most  serious  young  men,  that  their  minds 
are  too  little  affected  with  the  awfulness  and  re- 
sponsibility of  the  vocation  they  have  in  prospect, 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  ]59 

and  that  they  labor  often,  as  they  suppose  almost 
in  vain,  to  have  their  minds  more  deeply  imbued 
with  feelings  and  sentiments  suitable  to  the  solemn 
engagements  to  which  they  look  forward.  O  how 
such  minds  would  value  the  condescending  attention 
and  counsel  of  an  experienced  Christian  friend ; 
how  would  the  tender  anxiety,  suitable  cau- 
tions, faithful  admonitions,  and  stimulating  ex- 
hortations of  a  venerated  minister  tend  to  awaken 
and  keep  alive  the  best  impressions  in  the  mind 
of  the  young  candidate  for  the  sacred  office.  But 
if  such  intercourse  might  prove  so  advantageous  to 
the  most  serious  and  devoted,  how  much  more 
needful  to  others  of  a  lighter  cast  of  mind.  Be- 
sides, such  private  intercourse  would  afford  the 
finest  opportunities  of  acquiring  an  accurate  ac- 
quaintance with  the  character  of  the  individual,  and 
enable  the  wise  and  experienced  instructer  to 
adapt  his  strain  of  address  and  general  behaviour 
towards  his  pupil  in  the  way  most  likely  to  profit 
him.  Is  the  young  man  apparently  light  and  su- 
perficial in  his  vieAvs  of  the  real  nature  of  his 
contemplated  work — its  duties — difficulties — dis- 
couragements— what  sacrifices  it  will  require — what 
anxieties  he  must  feel — what  privations  he  must 
endure  ?  Let  the  faithful  monitor  never  cease  to 
sound  in  his  ear  the  most  serious  and  awakening 
representations  of  the  evil  and  danger  of  entering 
upon  a  life  of  professed  devotion  to  the  service  of 
God  with  a  trifling  and  unprepared  mind.  Let 
him  manifest  the  utmost  fear  lest  his  young  friend 
should  delight  himself  with  vain  expectations  of 
honor  or  ease,  or  be  carried  away  with  false 
appearances  as  to  the  privileges  of  the  station  he 
may  fill,  or  be  viewing  as  a  trifle  the  weight  of  a 
ministerial  charge.     Let  him  be  told  that  he  will  take 


160  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

a  very  incorrect  and  improper  view  of  his  course 
of  preparation  if  he  thinks  all  he  is  to  acquire  at 
an  academy  is  a  knowledge  of  a  few  branches  of 
learning  to  fit  him  for  the  mechanical  or  merely 
intellectual  part  of  his  future  work.  Let  it  be  in- 
culcated with  all  solemnity,  and  earnest  endeavor 
to  make  him  feel  the  force  of  it,  that  he  must  now 
be  undergoing  a,  preparation  of  heart  for  the  work  ; 
that  during  an  academical  course  the  retirement  it 
affords  from  the  bustle  of  the  world  should  be  care- 
fully improved  for  the  purposes  of  self-improve- 
ment, in  a  still  higher  sense  than  even  the  acquisi- 
tion of  useful  learning.  All  the  leisure  he  can 
command  from  the  other  parts  of  his  diversified 
education  should  be  conscientiously  employed  in 
furnishing  his  mind  with  those  principles,  motives 
and  desires,  which  are  essential  to  the  character  of 
a  faithful  servant  of  God  in  every  situation.  And  as 
these  are  not  to  be  acquired  by  mere  dint  of  study 
and  natural  effort,  but  are  the  special  gifts  of  God, 
he  ought  to  be  much  in  prayer  for  these  right  dis- 
positions ;  and  he  must  meditate  and  pray  over  the 
subject  continually,  reckoning  that  whatever  may 
be  his  other  acquirements,  if  he  be  deficient  in  this 
preparation  of  the  heart  he  must  go  forth  to  his 
work  unqualified  for  it  in  the  most  essential  re- 
spects, and  not  likely  to  acquit  himself  with  honor 
or  comfort  when  engaged  in  it.  God  may  in  in- 
finite mercy  forgive  the  sin  of  his  past  negligence 
in  seeking  the  "  best  gifts,"  and  shower  down  upon 
him  his  Spirit  in  an  extraordinary  manner  ;  but  it  is 
utterly  unwarrantable  to  presume  upon  any  such 
special  interposition  of  mercy :  and  the  hope  of  it 
must  not  be  suffered  to  encourage  the  neglect  of 
those  most  important  exercises  of  mind  for  which 
a  residence  at  an  academical  institution  affords  such 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  161 

favorable  opportunities.  In  a  word,  if  the  student 
does  not  leave  the  seat  of  learning-  more  humble, 
more  devoted,  more  given  to  prayer,  more  serious, 
more  consistent  in  his  whole  deportment,  and  more 
impressed  in  his  general  views  of  his  holy  calling 
than  when  he  entered  it,  he  has  lost  one  great  end 
of  his  abode  there.  And  if  tutors'  have  neglected 
to  direct  and  assist  him  in  growing  in  grace  as  well 
as  in  knowledge,  they  have  failed  in  the  perform- 
ance of  an  important  branch  of  their  duty. 

It  may  not  be  irrelevant  to  notice,  in  connection 
with  this,  one  thing  which  is  as  important  as  it  is 
obvious :  namely,  that  when  young  men  cease  to 
be  students,  in  the  sense  of  residing  at  a  seminary 
of  learning,  they  are  not  to  cease  to  be  students  in 
the  sense  of  pursuing  the  study  of  every  useful 
branch  of  knowledge  as  they  have  ability  and  oppor- 
tunity. They  must  study  to  retain  what  they  have 
learned,  and  be  continually  adding  to  their  stores  ; 
and  more  especially  they  must  consider  themselves 
to  be  always  learners  in  what  relates  to  their  minis- 
terial work — the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures — of 
their  own  hearts,  and  of  the  duties  they  owe  to 
those  over  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  may  make  them 
overseers.  It  was  a  most  important,  and  to  all 
ministers  a  most  instructive,  reason  assigned  by  the 
apostles  for  the  appointment  of  deacons  in  the 
church  at  Jerusalem — that  we  may  give  ourselves 
continually  to  prayer  and  to  the  ministry  of  the 
word.  With  this  corresponds  the  charge  of  Paul  to 
Timothy,  "Give  thyself  wholly  to  these  things;" 
and  again,  "  Give  thyself  to  reading,  to  medita- 
tion, to  prayer ;  continue  in  them,  for  in  doing  this 
thou  shalt  both  save  thyself  and  them  that  hear 
thee." 

It  would  be  easy  to  say  much  on  such  a  subject, 


162  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

but  I  close  with  one  remark  more  as  to  the  value 
and  importance  of  a  faithful  and  judicious  friend 
to  a  young  man  of  the  description  referred  to  in 
this  letter.  There  are  some  points  to  be  decided  as 
to  fitness  for  the  work  which  the  individual  himself 
is  best  acquainted  with  ;  such  as  the  purity  of  his 
motives,  the  sincerity  of  his  professions,  the  reality 
of  his  desire  for  the  work,  and  his  unreserved  de- 
votion to  it.  But  most  other  things  must  be 
left  with  his  friends  to  decide.  He  cannot  be 
supposed  capable  of  forming  a  correct  estimate 
of  his  intellectual  rank,  nor  of  the  view  others 
take  of  his  general  character:  self-conceit  or  true 
humility  equally  disqualify  forjudging  correctly  on 
all  such  matters. 

It  follows,  therefore,  that  the  duty  of  advising, 
encouraging,  dissuading,  reproving,  should  be  per- 
formed by  the  minister,  tutor,  or  other  friend,  with 
the  most  conscientious  diligence  and  faithfulness. 
Nothing  is  more  mischievous  than  the  false  delicacy 
or  tenderness  which  withholds  needful  warning  or 
reproof;  and,  on  the  part  of  the  young  pupil  or 
friend,  nothing  is  more  likely  to  retard  his  progress 
in  the  acquisition  of  that  which  is  of  the  first 
moment  for  his  true  advantage,  than  a  disposition  to 
despise  or  take  offence  at  the  faithful  admonitions 
of  an  experienced  Christian.  In  short,  these  things 
ought  to  be  matter  of  conscience  both  with  the 
teachers  and  the  taught.  If  the  reprover  is  counted 
an  enemy  because  he  tells  the  truth,  or  if  he  be 
restrained  from  the  performance  of  his  duty  from 
the  fear  of  meeting  with  such  a  return — if  the  re- 
proved is  secretly  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the 
severe  but  friendly  words  of  one  who  seeks  his 
good,  yet  practically  disregards  them,  in  all  these 
cases  there  must  be  self-condemnation.    The  au- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  163 

thority  of  conscience  may  be  slighted  for  a  season, 
and  principles  of  action  in  opposition  to  it  may 
bear  sway  ;  but  in  every  such  case  there  must  be 
the  inward  consciousness  of  having  committed 
wrong.  The  accusation  is  lodged,  and  no  power 
on  earth  is  able  to  withdraw  or  to  cancel  it.  The 
man,  on  the  contrary,  who  has  the  testimony  of  a 
good  conscience,  has  within  him  a  spring  of  happi- 
ness which  the  hand  of  misfortune  cannot  touch — 
safe  from  the  power  of  every  enemy,  and  proof 
against  all  the  vicissitudes  of  time.  This  happiness 
is  an  earnest  of  the  heavenly  blessedness,  as  the 
good  conscience  itself  is  the  pledge  of  acquittal  in 
the  day  of  final  judgment:  it  is  a  token  of  the 
approbation  of  God,  and  that  contains  in  it  the 
essence  of  all  felicity. 

I  am  yours,  &c. 


LETTER    XII. 


ON     APATHY     TO      THE      EXTENT      OF      THE     CLAIMS 
OF      THE      HEATHEN      WORLD. 

My  dear  Friend, 

In  a  missionary  sermon,  preached  about  forty 
years  ago  before  the  society  in  Scotland  for  propa- 
gating Christian  knowledge,  the  following  passage 
occurs  :  "  To  a  dark  and  benighted  world  at  large 
our  efforts  cannot  extend :  new  arrangements  of 
providence  alone  can  pave  the  way  for  its  con- 
version. But  while  we  feel  for  the  unhappy  situ- 
ation of  the  vast  multitudes  of  our  fellow-creatures 
remaining  in  ignorance  and  idolatry,  and  lament 


164  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

our  incapacity  to  bring  them  relief,  let  us  humbly 
and  earnestly  recommend  them  to  the  compassion- 
ate regards  of  the  great  universal  Parent.  Let  us 
plead  with  him  as  arguments  his  respect  to  his  own 
glory,  and  to  the  best  interests  of  his  rational  off- 
spring ; — let  us  plead  with  him  his  own  truth  and 
faithfulness  in  fulfilling  his  promises,  that  by 
methods  known  to  his  infinite  wisdom  he  would 
enlighten  the  dark  places  of  the  earth  Avith  the 
pure  light  of  evangelical  truth,  and  hasten  the 
happy  time  foretold  when  the  dominion  of  Christ 
shall  extend  '  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth.'  "* 

I  have  quoted  this  passage  because  I  consider  it 
as  expressing  the  sentiments  of  a  class  of  persons 
among  us  still  very  numerous,  although,  I  would 
fain  hope,  decidedly  on  the  decrease.  Much  has 
been  said  and  written  on  missionary  subjects  since 
the  date  of  the  discourse  from  which  the  above  ex- 
tract is  taken ;  but  not  enough,  it  would  seem,  to 
convince  some  of  their  duty  in  reference  to  this 
point — the  duty  of  making  greater  exertions  and 
greater  sacrifices  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel. 

The  leading  sentiment  of  the  passage  under 
review  is  obvious  enough ;  but  all  its  bearings  may 
not  be  at  once  perceived.  With  a  view  to  expose 
the  real  nature  and  tendency  of  it,  I  beg  leave  to 
offer  a  few  remarks. 

Whilst  the  notion  is  entertained  that  our  efforts 
cannot  extend  to  "  a  dark  and  benighted  world  at 
large,"  there  may  be  the  full  admission  that  so  to 
extend  them,  were  it  possible,  would  be  a  noble 


*  Kemp's  sermon,  entitled  "The  Gospel  adapted  to  the 
Slate  and  Circumstances  of  Men."  Scotch  Preacher,  vol.  iv. 
p.  281. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  165 

and  Christian  enterprize  ; — one  in  which  every  true 
Christian  should  rejoice,  and  assist  as  far  as  in  his 
power.     But  the  attempt  is  too  great ! 

The  words  I  have  quoted  are  immediately  pre- 
ceded by  an  inference  drawn  from  the  adaptation 
of  the  Gospel  to  the  state  and  circumstances  of  man, 
to  this  effect — "  that  to  extend  the  knowledge,  and 
to  promote  the  influence  of  this  divine  system,  are 
the  noblest  objects  of  human  benevolence."  But 
alas !  with  such  objects  for  the  exercise  of  benevo- 
lence, and  such  a  field  as  the  world  for  the  display 
of  it,  unfortunately  for  "  humanity,"  they  are  be- 
yond its  reach !  The  scheme  is  impracticable. 
The  world  is  too  benighted ;  and  our  means  of 
enlightening  it  are  too  limited  to  permit  us  to  in- 
dulge the  hope  that  any  efforts  of  ours  can  be 
brought  to  bear  with  effect  upon  "  the  world  at 
large."  "  New  arrangements  of  providence  alone 
can  pave  the  way  for  its  conversion !"  and  with 
this  sentiment  we  fold  our  hands,  and  sit  down, 
thinking  that  we  are  absolved  from  all  obligation 
to  concern  ourselves  any  farther  about  the  matter! 

The  rest  of  the  paragraph  is  much  in  the  same 
spirit  with  the  pious  expressions  of  the  rich  man 
who  dismisses  the  starving  beggar  from  his  door 
with  "  God  help  you,  poor  man  !"  instead  of  giving 
him  the  alms  he  can  very  well  afford.  "  Let  us 
humbly  and  earnestly  recommend  them  to  the  com- 
passionate regards  of  the  great  universal  Parent  : 
let  us  plead  with  him,  as  arguments,  his  respect  to 
his  own  glory,  and  to  the  best  interests  of  his 
rational  offspring."  Compare  with  this  James  ii. 
15,  16.  "If  a  brother  or  a  sister  be  naked  and 
destitute  of  daily  food,  and  one  of  you  say  unto 
them,  Depart  in  peace,  be  ye  warmed  and  filled  ; 
notwithstanding  ye  give  them  not  those  things 
14 


166  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

which  are  needful  to  the  body,  what  doth  it  profit? 
Even  so  faith,  if  it  hath  not  works,  is  dead,  being 
alone."  Now  I  leave  you  to  judge  what  is  the 
worth  of  that  faith  which  "  pleads  with  God  his 
own  truth  and  faithfulness  in  fulfilling  his  pro- 
mises ;  that  by  methods  known  to  his  infinite 
wisdom  he  would  enlighten  the  dark  places  of  the 
earth  with  the  pure  light  of  evangelical  truth,"  &c. 
The  deceptive  and  pernicious  sentiment  which  lurks 
behind  this  fair  show  of  concern  for  God's  glory  is, 
that  it  is  God's  work  and  not  ours — that  it  is  for 
him  to  see  to  it ;  and,  although  we  must  feel  for 
the  unhappy  situation  of  the  vast  multitudes  of  our 
fellow-creatures  remaining  in  ignorance  and  idol- 
atry, it  is  not  our  fault  that  these  evils  are  not  re- 
moved !  Such  a  prayer,  accompanied  with  corres- 
ponding "  works  of  faith  and  labors  of  love"  for 
the  relief  of  the  miseries  it  professes  to  deplore, 
would  be  a  suitable  acknowledgment  of  the  need 
of  God's  blessing  to  render  human  means  effectual. 
But  when  such  a  prayer  is  made  to  supersede  all 
efforts,  or  offered  as  an  apology  for  declining  them, 
it  is,  I  apprehend,  nothing  better  than  a  solemn 
insult  to  the  divine  Majesty — a  compound  of 
wretched  hypocrisy  and  impiety. 

I  conceive  that  the  sentiment  upon  which  we 
are  now  animadverting  has  a  most  prejudicial 
tendency,  although  it  be  not  carried  so  far  as  to 
paralyze  all  exertion  whatever — that  it  operates  in 
a  degree  in  the  breasts  of  many  who  aid  by  their 
subscriptions,  and  it  may  be,  by  their  general  in- 
fluence and  prayers,  the  cause  of  missions  to  the 
heathen.  Where  its  operation  is  partial,  it  allows 
the  individual  to  think  he  has  done  enough  when 
he  has  done  a  little  ;  whereas  a  right  perception 
of  duty  on  this  point  would  forbid  him  to  think  he 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  167 

had  done  enough,  so  long  as  by  any  means  what- 
ever he  could  contrive  to  do  more. 

It  is  unnecessary,  I  should  hope,  to  enter  into  a 
formal  refutation  of  the  opinion  that  "to  a  dark 
and  benighted  world  at  large  our  efforts  cannot 
extend."  That  opinion  is,  blessed  be  God,  already 
practically  contradicted.  The  undertakings  of  mis- 
sionary societies  that  have  sprung  up  since  Mr.  Kemp 
preached  the  sermon  referred  to,  circumscribed  as 
their  attempts  have  hitherto  been,  show  that  Chris- 
tians are  deterred  neither  by  distance  of  place  nor 
extent  of  population  from  embarking  in  missions  to 
any  part  of  the  world.  They  distinctly  recognize 
the  principle  that  "  the  world  at  large"  is  the  object 
of  their  efforts.  However  disproportionate  in  point 
of  quantity  are  the  means  yet  in  activity  or  in  pre- 
paration for  the  cultivation  of  the  moral  soil — "  the 
field  is  the  ivorld." 

But  the  very  magnitude  of  the  object  occasions  a 
kind  of  despondency.  Many  would  enter  with 
all  their  soul  into  some  scheme  of  benevolence  of 
more  limited  extent,  where  the  evils  to  be  removed 
or  alleviated  are  immediately  in  view,  and  the 
effects  of  exertion  subject  to  personal  observation  ; 
but  the  conversion  of  the  world  is  an  object  so 
vast,  so  distant,  so  far  beyond  our  grasp,  and  the 
effect  of  any  exertions  of  ours,  so  utterly  in- 
significant, that  when  applied  to  for  their  aid, 
they  give  their  money  with  a  desponding  sigh, 
as  if  they  despaired  of  any  greater  effect  of  human 
exertions,  upon  the  ancient  fabric  of  ignorance  and 
idolatry,  than  might  be  expected  from  throwing  so 
many  pieces  of  silver  against  the  walls  of  a  mate- 
rial fabric  of  stone  and  lime,  that  had  resisted  all 
the  effects  of  time  for  thousands  of  years. 

When  an  object  is  viewed  as  unattainable,  or  at 


168  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

least  not  attainable  now,  except  to  a  very  partial 
extent,  it  is  impossible,  according  to  the  consti- 
tution of  human  nature,' that  men  should  engage 
with  zeal  in  the  pursuit  of  it.  Or  if  by  any  means 
they  could  be  induced  to  begin,  they  cannot  be 
expected  to  persevere  with  spirit.  On  this  prin- 
ciple the  sentiment  against  which  these  remarks 
are  directed  is,  I  think,  peculiarly  reprehensible  ; 
for  the  tendency  of  it  is  to  repress  all  ardor  in  the 
best  of  causes  ;  and  the  effect  of  it,  so  far  as  it 
operates,  is  to  unnerve  the  arms  of  all  who  are 
engaged  in  it,  and  then  to  justify  the  state  of 
supineness  to  which  it  has  reduced  them. 

In  this  cause  we  can  do  nothing  aright  unless  we 
do  all  we  can.  If  any  one  come  short  of  the  limits 
of  his  ability  in  aiding  this  cause,  he  betrays  a 
criminal  indifference  which  renders  all  that  he  does 
accomplish  worthless  in  the  sight  of  God  ;  and  how- 
ever it  may  be  overruled  for  good  by  Him  who  can 
make  the  lukewarmness  as  well  as  the  wrath  of 
man  to  praise  him  ;  yet  such  a  spirit,  considered  in 
itself,  must  be  regarded  by  infinite  purity  and 
love,  with  the  loathing  occasioned  by  that  which 
is  neither  cold  nor  hot. 

I  take  it  for  granted  then,  in  opposition  to  the 
sentiment  of  the  sermon,  that  to  the  world  at  large 
the  efforts  of  Christians  can  extend ;  at  least  in  the 
same  sense  in  which  the  merchant  can  carry  his 
goods,  and  the  soldier  his  arms  to  every  part  of  the 
world,  i.  e.  they  can  if  they  will;  and  therefore 
the  only  impossibility  in  the  case  resolves  itself 
into  our  own  unwillingness  to  obey  a  plain  com- 
mand, to  fulfil  an  imperious  duty  ;  and  this  is  the 
simple  view  in  which  the  subject  ought  to  be  con- 
templated. 

I  repeat  then  that  in  attending  to  this  duty  we 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  169 

have  not  done  enough ;  so  long-  as  by  any  means 
whatever  we  might  contrive  to  do  more.  Let  this 
view  of  the  matter  but  possess  the  mind  of  Chris- 
tians generally;  let  the  friends  of  missions  bring 
the  amount  of  their  exertions  into  fair  comparison 
with  the  claims  that  are  made  upon  them  ;  let  one 
and  all  of  them  be  penetrated  Avith  the  conviction 
that  they  have  not  yet  done  all  they  might.  Let 
them  faithfully  act  up  to  these  convictions,  and  I 
will  be  bold  to  predict  that  in  the  course  of  a  very 
short  period  the  missionary  ivorld  will  wear  a 
■very  different  face.  There  will  be  a  spirit  and 
an  activity,  and  a  devotedness  in  the  work  in 
all  its  branches,  which  we  have  never  yet  wit- 
nessed. 

Perhaps  the  author  of  the  discourse  modified  the 
expression  of  his  views  as  to  the  conversion  of  the 
heathen  world,  in  order  to  make  his  argument  tell 
with  greater  effect  upon  the  immediate  object  of 
the  society,  whose  cause  he  was  advocating ;  for 
he  says,  "  Although  by  good  wishes  and  prayers 
alone,  we  can  express  our  Christian  benevolence  to 
the  infidel  world  at  large,  yet  on  behalf  of  certain 
corners  of  it  we  may  certainly  employ  more  active 
and  more  immediate  exertions.  To  the  remote,  un- 
cultivated, untutored  districts  of  our  own  country 
in  particular,  we  may  ;  and  every  principle  of  reli- 
gion and  every  feeling  of  humanity  call  upon  us 
to  send  relief  by  such  means  as  are  within  our 
power." 

Now  I  beg  you  to  observe  here  three  things, 
1st — It  is  admitted  to  be  "  a  duty,  enforced  by 
every  principle  of  religion  and  every  feeling  of  hu- 
manity, to  send  relief  to  the  necessitous  by  such 
means  as  are  in  our  power."  2d — That  we  can  ex- 
press this  benevolence  to  the  world  at  large  by  good 
14* 


170  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

wishes  and  prayers  alone.  And  3d — That  there- 
fore, it  is  our  duty  in  effect  to  confine  our  exertions' 
within  certain  geographical  boundaries.  Now  I 
maintain  that  the  middle  term  of  this  syllogism  is- 
amere  assumption,  instead  of  a  thing  rigidly  proved, 
and  we  have  already  seen  that  it  is  utterly  false, 
consequently  the  conclusion  falls  to  the  ground* 
But  I  appeal  to  you  whether  the  effect  of  such  a 
representation  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  their 
duty  to  a  Christian  congregation,  would  not  be  (if 
they  admitted  the  correctness  of  the  preacher's 
statements)  to  make  them  feel  fairly  delivered 
from  all  obligation  to  extend  their  practical  bene- 
volence beyond  the  limited  bounds  he  had  been 
pleased  to  prescribe. 

There  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  claims  of  our 
immediate  neighbors,  our  countrymen,  upon  our 
compassion  ;  but  their  claims  are  not  exclusive  of 
those  of  our  "  brethren"  the  Hindoos,  or  the  Caffres,  or 
the  cannibals  of  New  Zealand  ;  and  surely  the  man 
incurs  an  awful  responsibility  who  takes  upon  him, 
by  presenting  to  his  hearers  partial  views  of  duty,  to 
absolve  them  from  the  obligation  to  listen  to  the 
command  of  Christ  to  go  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.  For  such 
in  effect  is  the  doctrine  of  the  sermon  before  us. 

You  know  too  well  the  present  state  of  things 
in  many  religious  circles,  in  various  parts  of  our 
native  country,  to  reckon  this  an  obsolete  discus- 
sion. Would  that  the  evil  had  been  confined  to 
the  date  of  the  sermon,  or  had  at  least  terminated 
with  the  eighteenth  century !  But  I  am  afraid 
that  many  ministers,  who,  we  may  hope,  know  and 
love  the  truth,  treat  the  subject  of  evangelizing  the 
world  (at  least  as  to  any  practical  purpose)  as  a 
subject  which  may  very  consistently  be  let  alone. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  171 

When  they  do  allude  to  it,  they  will  own  that  they 
ought  to  give  it  their  "  good  wishes  and  prayers  ;" 
but  it  is  rather  by  their  silence  upon  the  subject — 
by  their  allowing  it  to  be  lost  sight  of  and  forgot- 
ten, that  they  tacitly  authorize  their  people  (so  far 
as  their  authority  may  go)  to  view  it  as  a  matter 
they  may  safely  leave  alone — as,  in  short,  no  con- 
cern of  theirs. 

I  cannot  account,  upon  any  principle  more  favor- 
able to  the  parties  concerned,  for  the  state  of  dor- 
mancy in  which  many  congregations  and  churches 
still  remain,  in  regard  to  a  cause  which  to  all 
Christians  ought  to  be  so  dear  and  important.  I 
know  that  there  are  many  noble  exceptions  to  this 
evangelical  apathy  (shall  I  call  it  ?) ;  and  were  all 
the  churches,  were  all  Christians  to  do  as  some  of 
them  do,  that  is,  to  the  utmost  stretch  of  their 
means,  this  censure  would  be  without  an  object. 
But  alas  !  it  is  not  so.  The  capabilities  of  the 
Christian  public  are  matter  of  numerical  calculation, 
and,  much  as  some  do,  the  amount  of  all  that  is 
done,  is  but  a  small  fraction  of  what,  accord- 
ing to  a  very  moderate  computation,  might  be 
effected.  I  have  now  in  my  eye  their  pecuniary 
capabilities ;  but  what  shall  we  think  or  what 
shall  we  say  of  their  ability  to  furnish  men  ?  How 
many  fit  men  do  all  the  churches  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  furnish  annually  to  go  out  as  mission- 
aries to  the  heathen  ?  Is  it  the  fact  that  not  one 
church  in  a  hundred,  actually  sends  out  a  single 
missionary  ?  Is  it  a  fact  that  thousands  of  Christian 
churches  meet  week  after  week,  and  year  after 
year,  for  the  observance  of  the  ordinances  of 
Christ,  and  that  it  never  occurs  to  one  of  all  these 
multitudes  of  professing  Christians,  and  is  never 
once  suggested  to  them  by  their  pastors,  that  there 


172  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

may  be  some  individuals  among1  them  who  should 
go  as  messengers  of  mercy  to  their  heathen  breth- 
ren ?  If  this  is  the  fact,  I  leave  you  to  draw  the 
inference.  Guilt  lies  someAvhere.  Is  there  not 
ground  for  addressing  such  bodies  of  professing 
Christians,  in  words  originally  spoken  in  reference 
to  another  subject,  ""Now,  therefore,  there  is 
utterly  a  fault  among  you." 

On  this  I  shall  not  now  enlarge,  but  I  would 
ask,  If  such  has  been,  and  is  the  state  of  things  in 
many  Christian  churches,  ought  they  to  remain  so  ? 
It  is  high  time  for  all  whom  it  concerns  to  consider 
this  question.  And  unless  they  can  justify  their 
neglect  of  the  heathen,  let  them  repent,  pray  for 
forgiveness,  and  seek  grace  to  "  walk  henceforth  in 
all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord 
blameless." 

Within  the  period  that  has  elapsed  since  the 
publication  of  the  sermon  now  commented  on,  the 
greater  number  of  the  existing  missionary  societies 
date  their  commencement.  Many  foreign  missions 
have  been  undertaken,  and  a  degree  of  business- 
like activity  and  system  characterizes  the  operations 
of  most  of  them ;  and  their  exertions  God  has  been 
pleased  to  honor  in  many  instances  with  an  en- 
couraging measure  of  success. 

But  it  should  be  observed,  that  while  Christian 
benevolence  has  taken  a  wider  range  of  exertion, 
and  is  now  travelling  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  it 
has  not  been  absorbed  by  these  foreign  operations. 
Christian  zeal  and  benevolence  have  opened  new 
channels  for  themselves  at  home  also,  and  are  flowing 
in  various  directions  through  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land.  Consequently  the  Christian  world  is 
not  now  pursuing,  with  undivided  attention,  either 
the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  among  the  heathen 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  173 

nations,  or  the  enlightening  of  the  dark  and  long 
neglected  corners  of  our  own  country.  Both  have 
a  share  of  attention.  And  these  two  great  classes 
of  objects,  the  foreign  and  the  domestic,  are  again 
subdivided  into  various  minor  classes,  so  that  there 
is  a  great  variety  of  benevolent  objects  now  de- 
manding the  support  of  the  Christian  public. 

But  in  this  state  of  things,  there  is  more  need 
than  ever  to  sound  the  alarm  in  the  ears  of  pro- 
fessors, lest,  deceived  by  this  appearance  of  multi- 
plied and  diversified  activity  in  doing  good,  they 
become  deaf  and  callous  to  the  cries  and  miseries  of 
those  to  whom  they  have  yet  afforded  no  relief; — 
lest,  thinking  only  of  what  they  are  doing,  they 
forget  that  there  is  something  they  are  not  doing, 
and  which  nevertheless  ought  to  be  done. 

Is  it  not  matter  of  notoriety,  that  many,  when  the 
claims  of  the  missionary  cause  are  pressed  upon 
them,  crave  to  be  excused  lending  their  aid,  on 
the  ground  that  they  assist  some  other  benevolent 
and  religious  institution  ?  This,  to  say  the  least  of 
it,  is  surely  making  the  performance  of  one  duty 
the  reason  for  neglecting  another.  To  propagate 
the  Gospel  wherever  there  are  human  beings  to  re- 
ceive its  glad  tidings,  is  either  the  duty  of  Chris- 
tians or  it  is  not.  If  it  be  the  duty  of  one,  it  is  the 
duty  of  all,  according  to  their  ability.  But  in  the 
case  supposed,  the  plea  in  effect  is  inability.  I 
grant  that  a  poor  man  who  may  give  his  mite  to 
one  object,  may  not  be  able  to  give  to  two  or  more, 
and  in  his  case  the  plea  is  valid.  But  I  am  sup- 
posing the  plea  of  inability  to  be  urged  upon  insuf- 
ficient grounds,  and  the  pittance  of  charity  be- 
stowed on  one  beggar,  made  a  pretence  to  send 
away  twenty,  unpitied  and  unhelped. 

Let  me  suppose  for  the  sake  of  illustration,  that 


174  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

in  time  of  war,  it  were  put  to  the  patriotism  of  the 
people  to  furnish  voluntarily  the  necessary  contin- 
gent for  prosecuting  the  war  with  vigor ;  there  is 
good  ground  to  conclude  that  in  multitudes  of  in- 
stances there  would  be  the  attempt  to  evade  alto- 
gether the  payment  of  the  smallest  fraction  to- 
wards the  expenses  of  the  war ;  and  in  another 
immense  number  of  instances  there  would  be  the 
attempt  to  answer  the  demand  made  upon  their 
generosity  and  public  spirit,  by  the  payment  of  a 
sum  far  below  the  due  proportion  to  be  expected 
from  persons  in  their  respective  circumstances.  But 
all  the  while  these  persons  would  wish  to  be 
thought  lovers  of  their  country,  and  contributors  to 
its  defence  and  aggrandizement  as  far  as  they  were 
able.  Suppose  now,  that  instead  of  leaving  the 
matter  to  the  optional  contributions  of  the  people, 
a  levy  were  imposed  upon  all,  proportioned  as  far 
as  could  be  ascertained  to  their  means,  would  not 
this  tax  in  thousands  of  cases  fall  much  heavier 
than  the  people,  when  left  to  their  own  view 
of  the  duty,  thought  they  were  able  to  sustain  ?  I 
may  here  repeat  a  text  quoted  before :  "  The 
children  of  this  world  are  wiser  in  their  generation 
than  the  children  of  light."  Human  governments 
do  not  leave  it  to  their  subjects  to  determine  how 
much  each  shall  contribute  to  the  purposes  of  the 
state  ;  for  if  they  did,  imbecility,  inaction,  and  de- 
rangement of  the  whole  political  machine  would 
soon  be  the  consequence. 

We  would  not  have  the  expenses  necessary  for 
carrying  on  the  war  against  the  empire  of  darkness, 
to  be  imposed  in  the  shape  of  a  tax  upon  the  sub- 
jects of  the  kingdom  of  Christ ;  but  till  they  are 
generally  roused  to  more  adequate  conceptions  of 
the  amount  of  means  requisite,  and  become  more 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  175 

conscientious  in  doing  and  sacrificing  what  they  can, 
it  is  easy  to  see  that,  so  far  as  human  agency  is 
concerned,  the  contest  may  be  indefinitely  pro- 
tracted, and  the  enemy  continue  to  laugh  at  the 
irresolute  measures,  unwise  counsels,  languid  zeal, 
cowardice,  and  imbecility  of  the  confederated,  or 
rather  divided,  Christian  world. 

Turn  now  to  the  matter  of  fact.  To  subdue  the 
whole  heathen  world  to  the  obedience  of  Christ, 
the  combined  energies  of  all  the  Christians  in  the 
world  are  equal  to  the  maintenance  of  an  army  of 
five  or  six  hundred  men.*  No  wonder  that  they 
are  ready  to  sink  under  the  burden  of  supporting 
this  immense  body  of  forces.  It  is  some  comfort 
to  think,  however,  that  the  enemy  must  soon  be 
overpowered  by  such  a  host,  and  therefore  the 
oppressive  duty  of  maintaining  it  is  but  for  a  short 
season  !  I  feel  that  this  is  not  a  subject  for  irony, 
but  I  know  not  in  what  way  I  can  better  express 
the  feeling  of  shame  and  sorrow  which  the  contem- 
plation of  this  subject  excites.  It  is  indeed  morti- 
fying to  think  that  the  Christian  world  can  do  so 
little,  if  it  can  do  no  more  than  has  been  done  ;  and 
it  is  not  less  mortifying,  if  it  can  do  more,  that  it 
does  it  not. 

I  will  not  repeat  the  humbling  comparisons  that 
have  been  made  between  the  amount  of  the  annual 

*  It  is  true  that  the  separate  societies  which  devote  their 
funds  to  the  translating,  printing  and  distributing  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  other  societies,  not  strictly  missionary,  are 
supported  by  the  Christian  public.  These  furnish  the  mis- 
sionary (to  carry  on  the  figure)  with  arms  and  ammunition — 
and  may  be  supposed  included  in  the  view  we  are  taking  of  the 
hostile  operations  now  going  on  against  the  prince  of  this  work'. 
Let  therefore  the  whole  accumulation  of  means  be  kept  in  view. 
There  is,  alas,  no  need  to  hide  some  part  of  the  means  used,  in 
order  to  make  the  amount  appear  small. 


176  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

receipts  of  our  benevolent  societies,  and  the  receipts 
of  one  of  our  London  theatres  for  a  short  season  ; 
the  outfit  and  provisioning  for  a  few  months  of  one 
of  our  ships  of  war,  or  the  equipment  of  a  small 
armament  for  the  protection  or  conquest  of  some 
insignificant  island;  but  one  thing  I  will  say,  if 
we  improve  not  the  present  advantages  which  the 
favorable  situation  of  political  affairs,  the  flourish- 
ing state  of  our  commerce,  and  the  extent  and 
credit  of  our  foreign  relations,  put  within  our  reach, 
God  in  his  righteous  providence  may  soon  deprive 
us  of  them  all  ;  and  the  news  from  England  and 
India  that  has  just  reached  us,  puts  a  new  emphasis 
on  this  consideration. 

To  conclude  then,  what  if  the  directors  of  our 
missionary  societies  should  make  a  demand  for 
supplies  adequate  to  the  equipment  and  mainte- 
nance of  four  times  the  number  of  missionaries  at 
present  in  actual  service,  would  the  demand  meet 
with  a  refusal  as  a  thing  impossible  ?  or,  might  it 
be  accomplished  ?  By  a  determined  renunciation 
of  a  few  superfluities — by  retrenching  a  few  fashion- 
able luxuries — by  the  sacrifice  of  a  little  taste  and 
a  little  empty  pleasure,  it  might.  This  must  be 
obvious  to  any  one  who  chooses  to  reflect  upon 
the  subject,  and  that  not  to  four  times  but  to  ten 
times  the  amount  of  the  present  scale  of  opera- 
tion ? 

Then  why  is  the  thing  not  done  ?  Either  be- 
cause the  object  is  not  of  sufficient  importance  to 
justify  such  sacrifices — or 

I  leave  you  to  supply  the  rest. 

I  am  yours,  &c. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  177 


LETTER    XIII. 

ON  THE  BEST  MEANS  OF  CONVINCING  THE  HEA- 
THEN OF  THE  TRUTH  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 

My  dear  Friend, 

The  difficulty  of  proving  to  the  heathen  the 
truth  of  Christianity  is  a  subject  which  has  often  en- 
gaged my  thoughts.  I  have  also  endeavored  to 
elicit  the  sentiments  of  others  as  to  the  best  method 
of  setting  the  evidences  of  the  truth  before  the  mind 
of  an  unbeliever,  but  hitherto  have  met  with 
nothing  altogether  satisfactory.  I  now  offer  you 
a  few  observations  on  the  subject,  more  for  the 
purpose  of  setting  the  difficulties  connected  with  it 
in  their  true  light,  than  as  containing  a  complete 
solution  of  them. 

The  evidences  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  reli- 
gion are  various  and  abundant ;  they  are  sufficient 
to  carry  full  conviction  to  the  mind  of  any  one 
capable  of  appreciating  the  force  of  them.  But  the 
historical  evidences  are  from  their  very  nature  ill 
adapted  for  popular  conviction  ;  they  are  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  great  mass  of  the  people  ;  and  the 
internal  evidences  cannot  be  felt  or  understood  by 
those  who  have  no  personal  experience  of  the 
power  of  the  truth  on  their  own  hearts,  and  who 
have  no  living  examples  of  it  before  their  eyes. 
The  evidence  from  miracles  (now  that  miraculous 
powers  have  ceased)  resolves  itself  into  the  testi- 
mony borne  to  the  miracles  of  the  first  age  of  Chris- 
tianity, but  the  truth  of  that  testimony  the  heathen 
may  be  supposed  to  have  no  means  of  ascertaining. 

Thus  the  great  mass  of  evidence  comprehended 
15 


178  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

under  these  three  divisions  is  almost  wholly  in- 
accessible to  the  heathen  world.  That  Christianity 
was  attested  by  miracles — that  the  commencement 
of  the  Christian  dispensation  was  the  close  and  the 
fulfilment  of  a  prior  economy  of  miracles  that  had 
subsisted  from  the  very  infancy  of  the  world — that 
the  success  of  Christianity  by  such  instruments  as 
its  first  disciples,  and  in  such  circumstances  as  cha- 
racterized that  era,  is  itself  a  most  stupendous 
miracle — that  the  concurrent  voice  of  ancient  his- 
tory, the  testimony  of  enemies  as  well  as  friends, 
confirm  the  truth  of  the  principal  facts  recorded  in 
our  Scriptures, — that  these  Scriptures,  as  we  now 
have  them,  are  the  genuine  and  unadulterated 
records  of  divine  revelation,  handed  down  to  us 
through  a  long  succession  of  ages — that  the  cha 
racter  Christianity  claims  is  established  by  the 
effects  it  has  produced  in  millions  of  instances, 
in  turning  sinners  from  darkness  to  light  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God — that  this  evidence 
is  continually  accumulating  by  the  additions 
making  to  the  number  of  its  believers  who  "  have 
the  witness  in  themselves" — that  the  purity  of  its 
precepts,  the  sublimity  of  its  doctrines,  the  holy 
spirit  it  breathes,  the  evils  it  cures,  the  joy  and 
peace  it  bestows,  the  glory  it  reveals,  the  consis- 
tency of  all  its  parts,  its  being  so  worthy  of  God, 
and  so  suitable  to  the  state  of  man,  all,  all  bear 
witness  for  it  as  a  revelation  not  of  earthly  origin — 
that  it  comes  from  God  and  is  "  truth  and  no  lie." 
This,  and  much  more  than  all  this,  the  heathen  in 
the  first  instance  can  neither  appreciate  nor  believe  \ 
they  may  have  the  bare  testimony  of  the  missionary 
who  addresses  them  on  such  subjects,  that  Chris- 
tianity is  supported  "by  many  infallible  proofs," 
but  they   labor   under   a   total   incapacity    of  ex- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  179 

amining  them.  It  is  true  that  much  of  the  charac- 
ter here  given  to  Christianity  might  be  learned  from 
an  attentive  and  intelligent  perusal  of  its  sacred 
records  ;  but  this  is  supposing  a  degree  of  candor 
of  mind  and  interest  in  the  subject  which  it  is  too 
much  to  suppose  the  heathen  to  possess.  They 
have  a  religion  of  their  own,  and  they  demand  at 
the  very  outset  some  proof  of  the  truth  of  the  new 
system  proposed  to  them  before  they  will  think 
it  worth  their  while  to  give  it  any  farther  attention. 

Missionaries,  when  they  begin  to  address  them- 
selves to  a  heathen  population  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  are  often  called  upon  to  give  some  visible 
sign  or  demonstration  of  the  truth,  as  the  only  con- 
dition upon  which  they  can  expect  to  be  listened 
to  and  believed.  Could  the  missionary  perform 
miracles  in  confirmation  of  his  doctrine,  as  the 
apostles  and  other  Christians  of  the  primitive  age 
had  the  power  of  doing,  the  matter  would  be  in- 
stantly set  at  rest :  no  better  attestation  could  be 
given,  and  no  more  could  reasonably  be  demanded. 
Though  there  might  still  remain  in  the  breasts  of 
the  heathen  all  the  resistance  of  the  carnal  mind 
to  the  pure,  humbling  and  spiritual  doctrines  of 
the  Bible,  there  would  be  little  room  for  cavil 
against  the  truth  of  the  "  strange  things  brought  to 
their  ears." 

But  as  no  Christian  missionaries,  at  least  none 
deserving  of  the  name,  now  pretend  to  the  posses- 
sion of  miraculous  gifts,  and  must  meet  opposers 
and  objectors  on  other  ground,  it  becomes  a  serious 
question  how  they  may  best  accomplish  the  task  of 
setting  before  the  heathen  the  Gospel  accompanied 
with  such  proofs  or  arguments  in  its  favor  as  may 
be  convincing  alike  to  the  rude  and  savage,  and  to 
the  refined  and  civilized  worshipper  of  idols. 


180  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

After  what  I  have  said  at  the  beginning  of  this 
letter  you  will  not  suppose  that  I  pretend  to  dictate 
to  missionaries  how  they  ought  to  proceed  in  this 
case.  I  conceive  that  missionaries  ought  to  be 
men  capable  of  wielding  the  weapons  of  their  own 
warfare  ;  for  it  Avould  be  an  ungracious  supposition 
indeed,  to  suppose  men  sent  out  in  the  character  of 
evangelists  to  instruct  heathen  nations  so  ill  quali- 
fied for  encountering  the  arguments  of  an  acute 
heathen  intellect,  or  the  captious  objections  of  a 
nettled  and  depraved  heathen  heart,  as  to  be  non- 
plussed at  the  very  first  onset.  But  the  remarks 
now  made  on  the  difficulty  of  reaching  conviction 
to  a  heathen  mind  upon  the  first  principles  of  the 
Christian  scheme,  and  the  consequent  necessity  of 
the  Christian  instructer  being  prepared  to  do  justice 
to  the  cause  of  truth,  and  to  bring  it  off  with 
honor  when  assailed  by  a  cunning  and  determined 
adversary,  may  serve  as  a  corroborative  argument 
to  what  I  have  said  in  another  letter  upon  the 
"  qualifications  of  missionaries." 

I  remark  then  that  it  is  vain  to  expect  that  any 
heathen  can  obtain  conviction  of  the  truth  of 
Christianity  without  a  due  degree  of  attention  to 
the  subject.  You  may  place  an  object  in  the  clear 
light  of  the  noon-day  sun,  but  in  order  to  any  man's 
perceiving  it  he  must  turn  his  eye  upon  it.  It  may 
be  boldly  declared  to  any  inquirer  that  proofs  of 
the  truth  of  Christianity  are  at  hand  if  he  will  but 
attend  to  them,  and  that  they  are  sufficient  to 
satisfy  him  of  the  truth  of  its  pretensions  unless  he 
shut  his  mind  against  conviction.  A  willingness  to 
be  convinced  is  essential  to  the  character  of  a 
candid  inquirer  after  truth  ;  and  to  be  deceived  in 
a  subject  of  so  much  moment  as  religion,  is  a  thing 
so  much  to  be  dreaded,  that  there  ought  to  be  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  181 

utmost  seriousness  and  attention  brought  to  the  in- 
vestigation of  it.  Such  ideas  strongly  pressed 
upon  the  mind  of  a  heathen,  accompanied  with 
hints  as  to  the  most  palpable  errors  of  his  own 
system,  may,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  dispose  him 
to  allow  some  weight  to  the  arguments  that  may 
then  be  laid  before  him  for  the  truth  of  the  Chris- 
tian system. 

These  arguments  are  various,  and  must  of  course 
be  presented  in  a  shape  adapted  to  meet  the  pecu- 
liar state  of  mind,  opinions,  practices,  and  habits 
of  the  individual ;  and  of  all  this  the  missionary 
must  be  the  judge. 

The  following  have  occurred  to  me  as  a  few  of 
such  arguments,  and  they  are  more  or  less  appli- 
cable to  all  the  varieties  of  heathen  systems  in  the 
world. 

(1.)  All  men,  whatever  may  be  their  distinction 
of  birth,  country,  rank,  or  profession,  are  on  a 
level  in  the  sight  of  God.  A  religion  therefore 
which  comes  from  God  will  treat  men  as  naturally 
equal,  and  as  all  standing  in  the  same  relation  to 
him.  It  will  not  render  salvation  easier  for  the 
rich  than  for  the  poor — for  the  wise  than  for  the 
unwise — for  the  learned  than  for  the  ignorant. 
Your  religion  is  not  such  a  system  ;  Christianity  is. 

(2.)  Man  is  conscious  of  his  sinfulness  ;  his  con- 
science condemns  him  :  and  consequently,  if  he  does 
not  altogether  banish  reflection,  must  be  afraid  of 
death  and  all  that  follows  it.  A  religion  that 
comes  from  God  must  be  fitted  to  quell  such  fears 
in  all  its  true  disciples — give  them  peace  and  hope 
in  the  prospect  of  eternity,  and  that  upon  solid,  in- 
telligible, satisfactory  grounds.  Your  system  can- 
not dissipate  such  fears ;  it  cannot  yield  such  a 
hope  ;  Christianity  does. 
15* 


1 82  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

(3.)  The  dictates  of  natural  reason,  when  calmly 
listened  to,  testify  of  a  God,  and  conclude  him  to 
be  a  perfect  being,  essentially  good  as  well  as  infi- 
nitely great,  and  infinitely  wise.  A  religion  there- 
fore which  comes  from  him  must  correspond  with 
this  idea:  a  revelation  from  himself  must  fill  up 
the  faint  outline.  The  Christian  revelation  does  so  : 
yours  is  at  utter  variance  with  it. 

(4.)  The  soul  of  man  is  capable  of  endless  hap- 
piness ;  and  that  a  happiness  adapted  to  its  spirit- 
ual nature,  which  for  the  want  of  better  terms  may 
be  called  intellectual  and  moral  happiness.  A  true 
revelation  will  represent  the  future  state  of  hap- 
piness it  promises  to  its  followers  as  consisting  of 
enjoyments  corresponding  to  the  spiritual  nature  of 
the  soul — a  state  of  intellectual  and  moral  per- 
fection. Such  is  the  heaven  the  Christian  revela- 
tion makes  known.  To  such  a  heaven  it  leads 
believers  ;  for  such  a  heaven  it  prepares  them — a 
heaven  of  purity  and  love  and  blessedness  derived 
immediately  from  God  himself.  Your  heaven 
consists  of  sensual  gratifications,  the  indulgence  of 
base  appetites  and  passions. 

(5.)  Man's  existence  on  earth  is  but  for  a  limited 
period,  a  few  years ;  but  his  future  existence  is 
endless.  The  interests  of  eternity  therefore  are  of 
infinitely  greater  importance  than  those  of  time. 
A  religion  that  has  come  from  God  will  accordingly 
deal  with  men  chiefly  as  immortal  creatures,  and 
the  great  burden  of  it  will  be  the  necessity  and 
means  of  providing  for  the  happiness  of  the  soul  in 
a  future  state  of  being. 

This  is  the  character  of  Christianity,  but  your 
system  represents  present  pleasure,  wealth,  pros- 
perity, &c.  as  some  of  the  chief  things  to  be 
secured ;  your  system  is  liberal  of  promises  of  all 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  J83 

temporal  good  to  its  adherents,  and  many  of  your 
services  have  no  other  end  or  object  but  present 
sensual  good,  the  removal  of  temporal  evils,  or  the 
securing  of  temporal  prosperity. 

This  is  well  expressed  by  a  modern  author. 
"  One  of  the  leading  characteristics  by  which  the 
religion  of  the  Bible  is  distinguished  from  those 
systems  of  philosophy  and  morality  which  many 
would  impose  upon  us  in  its  place,  is,  that  every 
thing  appertaining  to  it  bears  a  relation  to  eternity. 
The  object  of  all  other  systems  is,  at  best,  to  form 
the  manners,  but  this  rectifies  the  heart ;  they  aspire 
only  to  fit  men  for  this  world  ;  but  this,  while  it 
imparts  those  dispositions  which  tend  more  than 
anything  else  to  promote  peace,  order,  and  hap- 
piness in  society,  fixes  the  affections  supremely  on 
God  and  things  above."* 

(6.)  If  God  be  a  pure,  a  good  being,  the  objects 
of  his  favor  must  be  made  like  himself.  Ap- 
proximation to  his  purity  and  perfection,  so  far  as 
creatures  may,  must  be  the  aim,  and  ultimately  the 
attainment  of  all  whom  he  admits  into  heaven. 
Therefore  a  true  religion  will  not  merely  teach  that 
the  divine  nature  is  adorned  with  every  moral  per- 
fection, but  will  inculcate  purity,  and  the  exercise 
of  every  virtue  upon  its  disciples,  both  as  their  duty 
and  the'",  happiness.  It  will  palliate  no  sin  :  it  will 
represent  the  love  and  practice  of  iniquity  as  irre- 
concileable  with  happiness  ;  it  will  represent  a 
course  of  sin  as  incompatible  with  the  enjoyment 
of  the  favor  of  God,  and  inconsistent  with  the 
character  of  one  who  hopes  for  a  happiness  whose 
element  is  holiness,  the  happiness  of  a  sinless  state. 
Hence  a  true  religion  will  allow  of  no  indulgence 

*  Fuller's  Essays,  p.  257.    ' 


184  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

of  lust,  it  will  furnish  no  food  for  pride,  no  fuel  for 
the  fire  of  wrath,  hatred,  or  envy  ;  it  will  come  with 
a  sweeping  proscription  levelled  against  the  entire 
mass  of  human  corruption.  Such  is  Christianity  ; 
and  therefore  they  who  love  sin  hate  it.  Such  is 
not  your  religion,  and  therefore  they  who  love  sin 
may  have  no  objection  to  it.  But  from  this  arises 
a  strong  presumption  that  Christianity  is  true,  and 
your  system  false. 

This  is  but  a  specimen  of  the  way  of  stating  the 
claims  of  Christianity  as  a  system  worthy  of  farther 
examination.  When  the  missionary  succeds  in  fix- 
ing the  attention  of  a  heathen  to  the  all  important 
subject,  a  great  point  is  gained  ;  and  if  the  missionary 
be  well  acquainted  with  the  notions  and  prejudices 
of  the  idolaters  to  whom  he  is  thus  delivering  his 
message,  he  may,  by  properly  availing  himself  of  this 
knowledge,  present  the  Gospel  scheme  of  salvation 
in  many  impressive  points  of  view.  The  doctrine 
of  the  cross  of  Christ  may  appear  strange.  The 
heathen  may  hate  it,  or  despise  it,  or  cavil  against  it ; 
but  this  is  the  grand  theme  upon  which  the  Chris- 
tian missionary  will  delight  to  dwell.  This  is  the 
teaching  God  will  bless  to  the  conversion  of  sin- 
ners ;  it  is  indeed  emphatically  "  the  word  to  the 
heart,"  which  heals  and  wounds  and  renovates  it. 
The  love  of  Christ  may  be  exhibited  in  brjght  and 
striking  relief,  against  the  scowling  personifications 
of  malice,  cruelty,  terror,  and  every  abomination, 
which  form  the  objects  of  the  worship  and  fear  of 
the  deluded  votaries  of  heathenism. 

The  contrast  drawn  by  a  late  excellent  author,  be- 
tween Christianity  and  Mohammedanism,  may  here 
be  quoted  as  exhibiting  the  argument  for  the  for- 
mer, arising  from  its  holy  and  heavenly  character. 
"  Were  all  men  consistent  Mohammedans,"  says  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  185 

author,  "  all  would  be  sensual,  selfish,  ambitious, 
deceitful,  malignant,  having  a  form  of  godliness 
but  denying  the  power  of  it.  Were  all  men  con- 
sistent Christians,  all  would  be  piety,  purity,  humil- 
ity, integrity,  disinterested,  liberal,  self-denying 
love.  The  earth  would  be  full  of  happiness  ap- 
proximating to  that  of  heaven,  and  preparing  for  it; 
and  without  any  effort  to  induce  them,  men  would 
every  where  beat  their  swords  into  plough  shares, 
and  their  spears  into'  pruning  hooks,  and  would 
learn  war  no  more."*  What  is  here  said  of 
Mohammedanism  is  equally  true  of  heathenism,  only 
the  contrast  might  be  rendered  more  striking  by 
still  farther  deepening  the  shades  of  the  system 
of  falsehood,  by  adding  all  the  epithets  of  evil 
enumerated  in  Rom.  i.  29 — 31 ;  for  the  unre- 
strained indulgence  of  every  evil  passion  is  the 
natural  fruit  of  systems,  which  substitute  in  one 
form  or  other  outward  observances  for  moral 
righteousness ;  which  in  many  instances  directly 
encourage  sin,  and  in  others  hold  out  that  encour- 
agement by  offering  the  pardon  of  the  most  enor- 
mous offences  at  the  easy  rate  of  an  offering  to 
their  bloody  gods,  or  a  gift  to  the  priests. 

It  is  not  enough  to  say  that  the  false  religions  of 
the  world  are  not  incompatible  with  the  wicked 
lives  of  their  professed  followers ;  they  actually 
render  the  unhappy  beings  who  adhere  to  them 
more  wicked  and  more  wretched  than  otherwise 
they  might  have  been.  The  direct  contrary  of  all 
this  is  true  of  Christianity. 

Perhaps  we  are  not  warranted  to  expect  that 
Christianity  shall  ever  be  absolutely  universal,  in 


*  Rev.   T.   Scott's  Answer  to  Rabbi  Crool's  Restoration 
of  Uraei. 


186  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

the  sense  of  every  individual  upon  earth  being-  a 
true  Christian.  But  what  a  glorious  scene  would  it 
be  if  every  Christian,  wherever  he  went  should  find 
a  brother  and  a  friend.  The  purity,  and  love,  and 
devotion,  and  happiness  of  heaven  would  be 
realized  upon  earth.  This  is  a  most  transcend- 
ently  pleasing  and  glorious  prospect.  Now,  I 
ask,  how  does  this  idea  bear  upon  the  question 
of  the  truth  of  Christianity  ?  To  my  mind  it  is  a 
most  striking  proof  of  the  truth  of  a  system 
that  the  universal  prevalence  of  it  would  neces- 
sarily produce  so  heavenly  a  degree  of  all  that 
is  beautiful  and  desirable,  and  holy  and  happy. 

Apply  the  same  test  to  Mohammedanism,  and  I 
shrink  from  it.  A  world  full  of  Mohammedans, 
would  still  be  a  world  full  of  sin  and  misei-y. 

Apply  the  test  to  any  system  of  heathenism. 
Suppose  that  system  to  become  universal,  and  the 
world  would  still  most  emphatically  be  a  world  of 
sin  and  misery !  The  judicious  missionary  will  not 
fail  to  make  good  use  of  this  argument,  and  there 
are  occasions  which  enable  him  to  bring  it  home 
with  striking  effect ;  and  there  are  minds,  even 
among  the  heathen,  quite  accessible  to  this  mode  of 
argumentation.  Their  reason  will  admit  the  just- 
ness of  the  statement,  however  much  their  hearts 
may  rebel  against  the  obvious  conclusion,  and  their 
habits  present  a  firm  resistance  to  its  practical  in- 
fluence. 

But  it  is  needless  to  attempt  to  point  out  any 
general  method  of  convincing  the  heathen  of  the 
truth  of  Christianity.  The  particular  manner  of 
dealing  with  modest  inquirers,  cavilling  objectors, 
insinuating  artful  disputants,  and  open  fearless  op- 
posers,  must  be  left  to  the  missionary  himself;  and 
he  would  be  ill  qualified  for  the  office   he    as- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  187 

sumes  as  a  teacher  of  Christianity  among  the  hea- 
then, were  he  unqualified  to  meet  all  these  varieties 
of  unbelievers,  and  unable  "  by  sound  doctrine, 
both  to  exhort  and  convince  the  gainsayers." 

But  this  suggests  the  necessity  of  missionaries 
having  their  minds  and  hearts  especially  prepared 
for  this  difficult  branch  of  their  duty.  Their  en- 
trance among  the  heathen,  their  gaining  a  favor- 
able ear,  their  being  heard  out,  their  success  in 
exciting  inquiry,  or  even  opposition — all  this 
mainly  depends,  under  God,  upon  their  acting 
wisely  in  their  intercourse  with  the  heathen,  and 
that  from  the  very  first.  And  how  are  they  to  do 
this  ?  I  think  the  great  secret  lies  in  our  holding 
"  fast  the  faithful  word  as  we  have  been  taught." 
In  other  words,  having  the  Gospel  in  our  hearts ; 
feeling  its  vital  warmth,  being  all  alive  to  its  inesti- 
mable worth  to  our  own  happiness,  and  its  indis- 
pensable necessity  to  the  happiness  of  the  sinners 
we  address,  as  yet  ignorant  of  it,  destitute  of  its 
blessings,  and  blind  to  its  glories. 

Indeed  not  merely  for  a  missionary,  but  for 
every  Christian,  the  grand  secret  of  knowing  how 
to  behave  in  every  situation,  and  how  to  speak  in 
every  company,  is  to  maintain  a  spiritual  frame  of 
mind.  This  is  the  effectual  check  of  levity,  cen- 
soriousness,  vain  disputing,  and  every  other  evil 
that  stains  the  beauty,  and  mars  the  pleasure  and 
profit  of  social  intercourse.  It  is  better  than  a 
thousand  maxims.  Let  the  heart  be  but  right,  and 
out  of  its  abundance  will  proceed  only  that  which 
is  good.  If  the  heart  of  the  missionary  be  in  this 
state  he  will  "watch  for  souls."  It  is  an  obvious 
truth,  but  it  cannot  be  too  often  repeated,  that  a 
right  disposition  of  mind  is  of  mighty  consequence 
in  the  proper  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  minis- 


188  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

terial  work,  and  I  think  emphatically  so  in  regard 
to  the  peculiar  situation  of  a  missionary  among  the 
heathen.  In  his  intercourse  with  them  they  will 
often  understand  his  temper  and  spirit  better  than 
his  arguments.  Or  at  any  rate,  if  the  former  do 
not  give  weight  to  the  latter,  they  will  appear  light 
indeed,  however  sound  and  logical  his  reasonings 
may  be.  "But  sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your 
hearts,  and  be  ready  always  to  give  an  answer  to 
every  one  that  asketh  you  a  reason  of  the  hope  that 
is  in  you,  with  meekness  and  fear,  having  a  good 
conscience."  There  is  a  beautiful  connection  be- 
tween the  several  parts  of  this  exhortation. 

I  will  just  add  in  connection  with  this,  that  the 
meekness  of  spirit  here  inculcated  has  a  wonderful 
power  over  the  hearts  of  all  who  behold  it ;  and 
hence  it  is  so  often  introduced  as  a  grace  to  be  cul- 
tivated with  unremitting  care,  and  exercised  upon 
all  possible  occasions.  "  I,  therefore,  the  prisoner 
of  the  Lord,  beseech  you  that  ye  Avalk  worthy  of 
the  vocation  Avherewith  ye  are  called,  with  all 
lowliness  and  meekness ."  Eph.  iv.  2.  "Follow  after 
faith,  love,  patience,  meekness."  1  Tim.  vi.  11. 
This  is  the  exhortation  of  Paul  to  a  missionary, 
and  another  is  to  this  effect :  "  But  the  servant  of 
the  Lord  must  not  strive,  but  be  gentle  unto  all 
men,  apt  to  teach,  patient,  in  meekness  instructing 
them  that  oppose  themselves."  2  Tim.  ii.  25.  "Put 
them  in  mind  to  be  gentle,  showing  all  meekness 
unto  all  men."  Tit.  iii.  2.  "  Put  on  therefore  as 
the  elect  of  God,  holy  and  beloved,  bowels  of  mer- 
cies, gentleness,  humbleness  of  mind,  meekness." 
Col.  iii.  12. 

I  am  not  fond  of  apologies,  but  I  feel  it  proper 
when  I  think  of  the  difficult  subject  I  have  at- 
tempted to  handle  in  the  former  part  of  this  letter, 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  189 

and  the  monitory  strain  of  the  close  of  it,  to  repeat 
that  I  disclaim  the  idea  of  setting  up  as  an  in- 
structor or  monitor  to  those  of  Avhom  it  would 
better  become  me  to  learn.  But  the  communi- 
cations of  sentiment,  although  it  consist  of  nothing- 
very  new  or  striking,  may  elicit  new  trains  of 
thought  in  other  minds,  which  but  for  such  commu- 
nications might  have  lain  for  ever  dormant. 
"  Whosoever  hath  his  mind  fraught'  with  many 
thoughts,  his  wits  and  understandings  do  clarify  and 
break  up  in  the  communicating  and  discoursing 
with  another  ;  he  tosseth  his  thoughts  more  easily ; 
he  marshalleth  them  more  orderly  ;  he  seeth  how 
they  look  when  they  are  turned  into  words ; 
finally,  he  waxeth  wiser  than  himself;  and  that 
more  by  an  hour's  discourse  than  by  a  day's 
meditation."*  What  is  true  of  discourse  is  in  a 
great  degree  true  of  writing ;  and  I  have  not 
been  altogether  without  a  view  to  my  own  improve- 
ment, in  "  turning  these  thoughts  into  words,"  and 
if  they  serve  the  purpose  of  "a  whetstone  of  your 
wits,"  as  the  same  author  expresj^s  himself,  "  al- 
though they  do  nothing  more,  I  shall  not  regret 
having  communicated,  nor  will  they  be  altogether 
useless."  Allow  me  to  borrow  another  illustration 
to  the  same  purpose.  "Two  men  in  a  frosty 
season  come  where  they  find  a  company  of  people 
ready  to  starve.  The  one  wraps  himself  up  lest  he 
should  perish  with  them.  The  other  in  pity  falls 
to  rub  them,  that  he  may  recover  heat  in  them, 
and  while  he  laboreth  hard  to  keep  them,  getteth 
far  better  heat  to  himself  than  his  selfish  and  un- 
profitable companion  doth."f 

Thus  much  in  reference  to  the  subjects  of  this 

#  Bacon.  t  Baxter. 

16 


]C)0  LETTERS  ON   MISSIONS. 

letter,  but  you   may   extend  the    apology   if  you 
please  to  all  the  others  I  have  sent  you. 

I  am  yours,  &c. 

P.  S.  A  former  page  of  this  letter  would  have 
been  the  proper  place  for  inserting  what  follows. 
The  mode  of  argumentation  which  I  have  supposed 
to  be  necessary  in  the  case  of  cavilling  and  pre- 
judiced heathen,  is  not  to  be  viewed  as  an  attempt 
to  remove  their  objection  to  the  Gospel  itself;  but 
rather  as  suited  to  convince  a  heathen  that  it  has 
come  from  God,  and  is  therefore  "  worthy  of  all  ac- 
ceptation," and  if  his  favorable  ear  is  so  far 
gained,  that  he  listens  under  this  impression,  a 
great  point  is  secured.  If  he  admits  that  there  is 
ground  to  believe  the  message  the  missionary  deli- 
vers is  from  God,  there  is  no  disputing  about  the 
terms  of  the  message  itself. 

But  as  before  intimated,  the  doctrine  itself  car- 
ries in  it  strong  internal  marks  of  its  divine  original, 
and  while  the  unbeliever  hears,  "he  is  convinced 
of  all,  he  is  judged  of  all;  and  thus  the  secrets  of 
his  heart  are  made  manifest,  and  so,  falling  down 
on  his  face,  he  will  worship  God,  and  repeat  that 
God  is  in  you  of  a  truth." 

It  is  of  importance  to  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  in 
the  form  of  a  testimony  the  Gospel  is  to  be  pub- 
lished to  the  heathen.  Now  the  design  of  pub- 
lishing it  is  to  produce  a  belief  of  its  truth  in  the 
minds  of  the  hearers.  When  this  is  distinctly  kept 
sight  of,  there  will  scarcely  be  room  for  any  mate- 
rial error  in  the  manner  of  presenting  the  truth 
to  the  attention  of  the  heathen.  Buf  it  may  be 
remarked  in  passing,  that  this  gives  a  striking  view 
of  the  necessity  of  the  missionary  himself  being  a 
man  who  clearly  understands   the   import  of  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  191 

message  he  is  to  deliver.  If  he  mistakes  or  muti- 
lates his  message,  he  not  only  leads  his  hearer 
astray,  but  obscures  and  wrongs  the  Gospel  itself; 
and  in  so  far  as  he  departs  from  the  genuine  spirit 
of  it,  in  so  far  he  lessens  the  evidence  of  its  truth, 
and  increases  the  difficulty  of  believing  it. 

But  this  is  not  all.  If  he  errs  in  regard  to  the 
real  terms  of  the  message  he  delivers,  although  his 
hearers  should  believe  what  he  says,  their  faith 
would  not  be  the  faith  of  the  Gospel.  It  may  be 
one  of  the  many  compounds  of  truth  and  error 
current  in  the  world,  that  go  under  the  name  of  the 
Gospel,  but  which,  in  various  degrees  are  perver- 
sions and  counterfeits  of  it. 

I  merely  hint  at  this  in  passing,  as  suggesting 
matter  of  caution  as  to  the  employment  of  men  of 
unsound  views;  and  to  missionaries  themselves, 
that  they  study  constantly  the  genuine  records  of 
truth.  The  Scriptures  contain  the  doctrine  they 
are  to  publish  ;  let  them  learn  it  with  humility  and 
prayer  from  that  source,  and  they  will  not  err. 


LETTER    XIV. 

ON  THE  REASONS  WHICH  MAY  JUSTIFY  QUALI- 
FIED INDIVIDUALS  IN  DECLINING  THE  MISSIONARY 
SERVICE. 

My  dear  Friend, 

What  reasons  are  sufficient  to  justify  an  indi- 
vidual qualified  for  missionary  service,  declining 
that  service,  and  spending  his  days  at  home  ?  This 
is  a  question  you  will  say  easier  to  propose  than  to 


192  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

solve.  I  am  persuaded,  however,  that  the  diffi- 
culty attached  to  the  question  is  not  so  great  as  may 
at  first  sight  appear;  and  provided  you  admit  the 
assumption  upon  which  I  proceed  in  attempting*  the 
solution  of  it,  I  trust  you  will  be  satisfied  that  I 
have  drawn  a  fair  and  reasonable  conclusion. 

It  would  argue  great  ignorance  of  human  nature, 
however,  to  expect  that  any  solution  of  such  a 
question  could  prove  equally  satisfactory  to  all 
who  might  consider  it ;  and  especially  to  those  who 
might  feel  themselves  more  immediately  interested 
in  it.  Quot  homines  tot  sententice.  The  decision 
of  practical  questions  should  be  an  act  purely  in- 
tellectual— the  undisturbed,  unbiassed  work  of  the 
judgment.  The  passions  can  be  safely  admitted 
to  a  share  of  the  deliberation  only  when  they  are 
on  the  right  side  of  the  question,  but  as  this  is 
supposed  to  be  yet  undetermined,  it  is  generally 
best  to  exclude  them  as  much  as  possible  till  the 
affair  is  decided.  The  arguments  for  and  against 
are  wonderfully  affected  by  the  view  the  mind 
takes  of  one  result  of  the  deliberation  as  desirable, 
and  another  as  undesirable  ;  and  when  the  question 
deeply  involves  our  own  interests,  or  is  supposed  to 
do  so,  it  is  almost  beyond  human  nature  not  to 
lean  to  the  side  to  which  all  the  affections  would 
push  the  conclusion. 

I  think  it  has  been  generally  allowed  by  all  who  are 
rightly  affected  to  the  cause  of  missions,  that  when  a 
pious  individual,  every  way  qualified,  so  far  as  may 
be  known,  determines  it  to  be  his  duty  to  devote  him- 
self to  the  service  of  God  among  the  heathen,  and 
follows  up  his  determination, he  does  well;  in  other 
words,  that  it  is  his  duty  to  go.  But  if  he  had 
so  chosen  it,  would  it  have  been  his  duty  to  remain 
at  home  ?   Is  it  his  mere  willing,  that  makes  it  his 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  193 

duty  to  go  or  stay  ?  This,  I  suspect,  is  a  pretty 
general  opinion,  but  I  think  an  erroneous  one : 
for  upon  this  principle  every  one's  duty  is  deter- 
mined by  liis  own  impressions.  What  he  conceives 
to  be  duty  in  certain  circumstances,  is  duty  ;  but  if, 
in  the  same  circumstances,  he  had  determined  upon 
an  altogether  different  course,  that  would  have 
been  -duty  also  !  Thus  one  man  determines  to  be- 
come a  missionary  because  he  concludes  from  a 
consideration  of  his  advantages,  and  all  the  circum- 
stances of  obligation  resting  upon  him,  that  he  is 
called  to  go.  But  if  he  or  another  individual  in 
similar  circumstances  determine  to  engage  in  the 
ministry  at  home,  or  to  follow  a  secular  profession, 
he  is  still  in  the  way  of  duty. — This  seems  difficult 
to  be  admitted. 

Were  these  different  paths  of  supposed  duty 
equally  inviting  or  equally  forbidding,  there  would 
be  no  room  to  suspect  the  operation  of  improper 
bias  in  the  choice  of  any  one  of  them.  But  if  one 
of  these  paths  is  fenced  up  with  thorns,  and  can  be 
trodden  only  at  the  expense  of  relinquishing  much 
that  is  dear  to  flesh  and  blood,  we  may,  without 
being  uncharitable,  conclude  that  many  decline  from 
this  path  of  duty,  and  choose  another  path,  which 
of  course  to  them  is  not  the  path  of  duty.  This  is 
sufficiently  plain,  and  I  endeavor  to  express  myself 
upon  it  as  plainly  as  possible. 

Nevertheless,  with  all  this  acknowledged  and 
lamented  weakness,  there  may  be  in  many  instances 
that  honesty  of  intention  and  sternness  of  principle 
which  will  carry  the  question  against  the  combined 
force  of  every  bias  and  prepossession  and  interest 
leagued  to  bribe  the  judgment,  and  procure  the 
wished-for  decision. 

16* 


194  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Surely  there  are  many  such  minds  of  sterling 
principle  among1  the  pious  youth  of  Great  Britain, 
educating  for  the  ministry  or  other  professions,  as 
well  as  young  ministers  already  engaged  in  the 
work,  and  men  in  secular  life  of  humble  and  devoted 
hearts,  and  respectable  talents  and  learning.  It 
may  not  be  too  late  for  some  of  them  to  sit 
down  to  the  consideration  of  this  question :  and 
if  they  think  they  have  already  decided  it  for 
themselves,  and  are  acting  upon  the  decision  by 
abiding  "in  their  calling,"  I  would  humbly  yet 
earnestly  press  them  to  review  their  decision,  and 
if  their  re-examination  of  the  subject  end  in  the 
same  conclusion  as  before,  a  more  satisfactory  and 
complacent  feeling  of  rectitude  will  doubtless  re- 
ward their  trouble.  And  if  upon  this  repeated 
trial  of  the  matter  they  should  find  reason  to  reverse 
their  former  decision,  it  will  be  matter  of  congra- 
tulation that  they  discovered  their  error  in  time  to 
retrieve  it. 

Had  I  access  to  any  one  of  the  description 
alluded  to,  I  should  frankly  offer  my  opinion,  and 
give  my  reasons  for  it,  without  any  fear  of  being 
thought  presumptuous  or  officious  in  meddling  with 
matters  which  did  not  belong  to  me  ;  for  I  consider 
that  this  would  be  the  very  circumstance  especially 
qualifying  me  for  passing  a  judgment  in  the  case. 
My  being  personally  unconcerned  in  the  decision 
of  the  question  would  give  me  an  advantage  above 
others  of  superior  information  and  profound  judg- 
ment, whose  interests  or  affections  might  be  more 
concerned  in  the  practical  result  of  a  deliberation, 
which  might  involve  their  separation  from  a  beloved 
friend,  or  brother,  or  pastor ;  and  as  to  the  indi- 
vidual himself,  he  might  more  safely  rely  upon  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  195 

disinterested  judgment  of  a  stranger  than  upon  his 
own,  or  that  of  any  of  whose  advice  he  could  avail 
himself. 

In  such  a  case  I  would  suggest  the  following 
general  considerations. 

1st.  The  evangelization  of  the  world  is  given  in 
charge  by  Christ  himself  to  his  disciples  generally ; 
consequently,  while  the  work  remains  unaccom- 
plished it  is  binding  upon  all.  And  each  individual 
disciple  must  conceive  himself  as  specifically  in- 
cluded in  it,  unless  he  be  able  to  show  good  cause 
of  exemption.  The  aged,  the  very  young,  the 
weak  in  bodily  health  or  mental  capacity,  are, 
without  difficulty,  struck  off  the  roll  of  those  to 
whom  the  charge  applies  in  the  way  of  personal 
engagement  in  the  service  of  Christ.  With  them 
we  have  therefore  at  present  nothing  to  do.  We 
have  before  us  men  qualified  for  the  work,  but  de- 
liberating whether  they  ought  to  be  exempted  on 
other  grounds. 

2d.  As  Christ  does  not  require  any  one  to  put 
himself  into  actual  service  as  a  minister  or  mis- 
sionary by  breaking  through  the  established  rule  of 
duty  in  ordinary  life,  so  he  cannot  approve  of  any 
one  forsaking  unwarrantably  any  part  of  duty  in 
order  to  engage  personally  in  the  work  of  an 
evangelist  to  the  heathen:  consequently  there  is  a 
danger  of  entering  upon  it  uncalled  and  unapproved, 
as  well  as  a  danger  of  criminally  declining  it.     But, 

3d.  The  nature  of  this  service  is  such  that  there 
is  little  reason  to  fear  that  more  persons  will  offer 
themselves  as  candidates  for  it  than  ought  to  be 
employed  in  it.  Hitherto  the  proportion  of  can- 
didates has  fallen  miserably  short  of  the  number 
requisite  upon  any  reasonable  calculation  for  ful- 
filling the  divine  charge  to  preach  the  Gospel  to 


196  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

every  creature  ;  while  the  nature  of  home  service  in 
the  ministry  is  such,  that  there  is  no  danger  of  there 
being  an  inadequate  supply  of  candidates  for  all  its 
departments.  Further,  there  is  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  there  will  always  be  a  sufficient  number 
of  secular  men  for  conducting  every  plan  of  Christian 
benevolence  or  general  usefulness  at  home. 

The  deduction  from  this  is,  that  a  plea  of  exemp- 
tion from  foreign  service  founded  solely  upon  the 
call  to  engage  in  the  ministry  at  home,  or  to  fill 
any  Useful  station  in  society,  must  be  viewed  as 
inadmissible. 

4th.  That  as  it  is  the  unquestionable  duty  of  a 
Christian  to  provide  for  his  own,  it  follows  that  in 
a  case  where  parents  or  other  relatives  are  de- 
pendent on  one  who  proposes  himself  as  a  candi- 
date for  missionary  service,  he  cannot  consistently 
with  duty  leave  them  unprovided  for;  but  if  they 
may  and  will  be  provided  for  in  the  event  of  his 
leaving  them,  they  cannot  justly  detain  him,  nor 
can  he  in  ordinary  cases  justifiably  decline  the 
service  on  their  account. 

5th.  That  when  the  affection  of  parents  or  other 
relatives,  or  their  indifference  to  the  cause  of  Christ, 
or  other  hostility  to  it,  or  other  similar  motive, 
prompts  them  to  oppose  a  fit  person's  embarking 
in  this  cause,  it  might  go  far  to  ascertain  the  path 
of  duty  simply  to  consider  how  such  a  plea  of 
exemption  would  be  sustained  in  the  case  of  a 
soldier  ordered  by  his  prince  to  join  a  regiment  on 
a  foreign  station.  Would  the  prince  sustain  such 
a  plea  of  exemption  ?  Would  the  soldier  hesitate 
whether  it  were  his  duty  to  obey  the  command 
because  his  friends  hung  upon  his  neck  and  en- 
treated him  not  to  leave  them,  or  being  disaffected 
to  the  government,  absolutely  forbnde  him  to  go? 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  197 

It  will  not  avail  to  say  that  in  the  charge  given 
by  Christ  to  his  disciples  there  is  no  definite  com- 
mand to  me  to  engage  in  this  holy  warfare  against 
his  enemies  in  foreign  lands ;  for,  as  has  already 
been  shown,  this  is  the  particular  service  upon 
which  men  are  now  urgently  needed.  As  in  the 
government  of  ancient  Sparta  every  subject  was  a 
soldier,  and  whenever  br  in  whatever  way  their 
services  were  required  they  were  bound  to  come 
forward,  so  it  is  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ :  it  is  ex- 
pected that  every  one  will  know  and  "  do  his  duty." 
In  the  contest,  then,  with  the  powers  of  darkness, 
Christ  has  made  it  the  duty  and  privilege  of  all  his 
subjects,  without  exception,  to  engage  according  to 
their  means  and  talents  the  strength  to  wield  the 
weapons  with  which  he  has  furnished  them  ;  and 
the  service  expected  and  demanded  of  all  who  are 
capable  of  bearing  arms  is,  to  take  the  field  in  per- 
son against  the  enemy. 

6th.  That  in  the  case  of  persons  whose  circum- 
stances enable  them  to  render  large  pecuniary  aid 
to  the  cause,  both  by  their  own  contributions  and 
the  exertion  of  their  influence  over  a  circle  around 
them,  it  is  to  be  considered  whether  personal  de- 
votement  of  such  individuals  to  the  service  would 
not  materially  lessen  the  means  of  supporting  and 
extending  the  operations  of  our  societies.  One 
whose  income  is  derived  from  the  exercise  of  a 
profession,  or  from  commercial  undertakings,  gives 
at  most  but  a  fraction  of  his  gains  to  the  cause  ; 
and  supposing  him  qualified  for  actual  missionary 
labor,  might  not  he  conclude  that  in  the  event  of 
his  relinquishment  of  the  means  of  befriending  the 
cause  as  a  contributor,  others  would  supply  his  lack 
of  service  ?  At  any  rate,  that  the  devotement  of 
his  life  to  the  service  of  Christ  among  the  heathen 


198  LETTERS  OxN  MISSIONS. 

would  be  at  least  a  compensation  for  the  loss  of  his 
handsome  subscription  and  his  labors  as  a  col- 
lector, and  even  for  his  annual  speech  at  the  mis- 
sionary meeting  of  his  district.  Again,  suppose 
the  person  to  be  possessed  of  an  independent 
fortune,  it  is  manifest  he  cannot  urge  the  pecuniary- 
assistance  he  renders  as  a  reason  for  not  yielding 
personal  services,  as  if  the*  former  must  cease  ur^on 
his  engaging  in  the  latter.  If,  however,  he  makes 
the  circumstance  of  his  being  a  man  of  property 
and  influence  his  plea  of  exemption,  that  is  a 
different  thing ;  and  (always  supposing  him  quali- 
fied for  the  service),  whether  he  may  commute 
actual  obedience  to  the  charge  of  Christ  into  a 
contribution  of  a  few  hundred  pounds  a  year,  by 
way  of  enabling  others  to  labor  in  his  name,  I 
think  it  not  difficult  to  determine.  This  is  analo- 
gous to  the  case  of  a  man  in  time  of  war,  providing 
a  substitute  to  go  and  fight  for  him  the  battles  of 
his  country.  Now  of  the  two  modes  of  obedience, 
actual  service  or  the  support  of  a  substitute,  which 
is  the  greater  sacrifice  ?  Unquestionably  the 
former — and  hence  the  presumption  that  it  is  the 
more  acceptable  service,  and  that  which  a  truly 
devoted  heart  would  choose  to  offer.  If  the  re- 
quisition upon  every  one  be  to  do  wrhat  he  can,  it  is 
evident  that  he  who  does  less  than  he  can,deliberately 
and  systematically  falls  short  of  doing  what  he  is 
required  to  do  under  the  peril  of  condemnation  as  a 
disloyal  and  cowardly  subject,  who  betrays  the 
glory  of  his  prince  for  his  own  ease,  and  purchases 
exemption  from  danger  by  an  extorted  and  muti- 
lated compliance  with  the  command  he  cannot 
altogether  disregard.  But  this  question  may  also 
be  determined  upon  different  ground:  be  it  re- 
membered that  in  this   warfare   there  can  be   no 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  199 

sending  of  substitutes.  Every  one  qualified  must 
go  in  his  own  name — must  serve  for  himself.  A 
man  qualified  for  the  service  of  Christ  as  a  mis- 
sionary, can  no  more  serve  by  substitute,  than  he 
can  keep  the  commandments  by  proxy  ;  and  if  no 
one  can  become  a  substitute,  no  man  can  lawfully 
employ  one. 

When  the  means  of  a  costly  sacrifice  are  wanting, 
the  smallest  offering  is  not  despised  by  Him  who 
looks  upon  the  heart  of  the  offerer.  He  that  is  not 
able  to  bring  his  lamb,  may  bring  his  turtle  doves 
or  two  young  pigeons ;  and  he  who  is  not  able  to 
present  even  these,  may  offer  the  tenth  part  of  an 
ephah  of  fine  flour.  (Lev.  v.  7,  11.)  But  there 
is  a  rigid  requisition  upon  every  individual  up  to  his 
ability. 

In  the  days  of  chivalry,  if  instead  of  joining  the 
magnificent  train  of  kings  and  nobles  and  warriors 
of  every  degree  who  poured  in  thousands  from 
England,  France,  anq^,  other  countries  of  Europe,  to 
drive  the  infidels  from  the  Holy  Land,  how  would 
the  hiss  of  derision  have  followed  the  knight  who 
should  have  shrunk  back  from  the  enterprize  while  he 
professed  to  admire  it,  and  excused  his  remaining 
at  home  on  the  plea  that  he  was  zealous  in  pro- 
viding the  means  to  enable  others  to  go,  or  even 
equipped  and  sent  out  a  warrior  at  his  own  ex- 
pense !  We}  knowing  the  extravagant  absurdity 
and  wickedness  of  those  "holy  wars,"  might  find 
some  excuse  for  such  a  man,  although  we  might 
not  be  able  to  acquit  him  of  cowardice.  But  we 
cannot  in  the  same  way  palliate  the  want  of  reso- 
lution or  devotedness  of  a  fit  man  in  the  present 
day,  when  the  cause  of  Christ  requires  his  services. 
Ours  is  the  true  holy  war :  we  may  easily  fall 
short,  but  it  is  difficult  to  exceed  in  our  estimate  of 


OQO  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

its  magnitude  and  glory,  or  in  our  zeal,  or  if  you 
will,  our  enthusiasm,  in  an  enterprize  which  aims 
at  nothing  less  than  to  wrest  the  world  from  the 
tyranny  of  Satan,  and  set  free  the  hundreds  of 
millions  of  captives  now  wearing  the  chains  of  his 
cursed  slavery. 

We  may  with  a  feeling  of  conscious  supe- 
riority look  back  upon  the  absurd  fanaticism  and 
romantic  ambition  of  the  chivalrous  spirits  of  the 
middle  ages.  We  justly  regard  the  cause  which 
is  now  beginning  to  put  the  whole  Christian  world 
in  motion,  as  one  infinitely  more  grand  and  more 
worthy  of  our  toils,  and  in  the  prosecution  of  which 
we  may  exult  in  full  assurance  of  the  approbation 
of  heaven.  Yet,  on  the  other  hand,  does  not  the 
contrast  in  another  view  put  us  to  shame  ?  The 
crusaders  were  in  earnest ;  they  were  ambitious  of 
death  in  so  noble  a  cause  as  they  conceived  theirs 
to  be.  The  pursuits  of  commerce,  the  beauties  of 
literature,  the  attractions  of  a  court,  the  luxuries  of 
a  life  spent  in  the  bosom  of  their  families  and  the 
society  of  friends,  surrounded  by  all  the  charms 
and  delights  of  their  native  country,  were  re- 
nounced without  a  sigh.  They  sprung  with  enthu- 
siasm at  the  call  of  their  leaders,  thinking  of  nothing 
but  the  glories  of  conquest  or  of  an  honorable  death 
in  the  hallowed  cause. 

We  readily  allow  that  all  this  enthusiastic  zeal 
was  excessive  and  absurd,  because  misdirected.  It 
was  wasted  upon  a  vain  and  impious  project, 
sanctioned  neither  by  the  voice  of  God  nor  of  right 
reason.  But  suppose  for  a  moment  that  all  that 
mighty  stir  of  preparation  and  equipment,  and  em- 
barkation of  a  powerful  armament  was  directed 
purely  against  the  empire  of  heathen  darkness — 
that  the  weapons  of  their  warfare  were  not  carnal 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  OQ1 

but  spiritual — that  instead  of  their  accumulated 
stores  of  arms  and  ammunition  in  the  shape  of 
actual  instruments  of  destruction,  they  had  gone 
out  with  a  grand  apparatus  of  Bibles,  printing- 
presses,  paper,  and,  if  you  will  pardon  the  ana- 
chronism still  farther,  stereotype  plates,  and  all  the 
other  requisite  machinery  for  commencing  and 
carrying  on  the  great  process  of  giving  the  light 
of  knowledge  and  truth  to  the  people  of  the  whole 
world  ; — and,  to  complete  the  picture,  suppose  the 
warriors  clad  in  armor  of  steel  that  followed  as  the 
living  agents  of  the  enterprize,  to  be  transformed 
into  simple  missionaries — men  full  of  faith  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  "  having  their  feet  shod  with  the 
preparation  of  the  Gospel  of  peace  ;  having  for  their 
helmet  the  hope  of  salvation,  bearing  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,  having  their 
loins  girt  about  with  truth,  and  above  all  armed 
with  the  shield  of  faith,  whereby  they  were  able  to 
quench  the  fiery  darts  of  the  devil."  And  suppose 
all  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  that  possessed  the 
warlike  knights  to  be  transferred  into  these  true 
soldiers  of  the  cross,  but  directed  towards  the 
sublime  and  merciful  object  of  preaching  the  Gospel 
of  peace  to  men  of  every  country  and  of  every 
language  ;  and  will  the  magnitude  of  the  pre- 
parations or  the  zeal  of  the  agents  employed  in  it 
be  reckoned  excessive  ?  Will  not  the  grandeur  of 
the  object  now  appear  adequate  to  all  the  sacrifice 
of  life  and  treasure  and  talent  embarked  in  it  ? 

I  am  sure  that  in  the  judgment  of  every  one 
capable  of  estimating  the  greatness  of  the  occasion, 
the  />lory  and  the  mercy  of  the  design,  scarcely  any 
conceivable  sacrifice  can  be  an  error  in  the  way  of 
excess.  And  by  the  same  rule,  all  that  we  are  now 
doing  is  a  lamentable  error  in  the  way  of  defect. 
17 


202  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

O  what  a  different  appearance  would  the  church 
assume,  were  such  a  spirit  of  zeal  for  the  spread  of 
the  Gospel  now  to  descend  upon  it  as  possessed  the 
minds  of  all  ranks  throughout  almost  the  whole  of 
Christendom  in  the  times  alluded  to !  How  much 
more  of  the  character  of  reality  would  religion  put 
on,  where  it  is  now  but  a  form !  How  would  it 
operate  like  a  living  principle,  instead  of  lying 
dead  as  a  cold  system  of  speculative  belief!  How 
much  more  of  the  presence  of  Christ  would  be  felt 
and  enjoyed  by  all  his  true  disciples,  and  how 
soon  might  we  expect  to  see  the  aspect  of  the  world 
beginning  to  change — the  heathen  idols  falling — 
their  temples  trembling  to  their  foundation — the 
worshippers  deserting  them,  ashamed  of  their  folly, 
mourning  over  their  guilt  and  wretchedness, 
yet  betaking  themselves  in  humble  faith  to  the 
refuge.  Then  would  the  brilliant  but  bloodless 
triumphs  of  the  cross  begin  to  be  celebrated  over  the 
fallen  shrines  of  the  east  and  the  west,  and  the 
north  and  the  south,  and  speedily  should  all  nations 
"  be  blessed  in  Jesus  and  call  him  blessed." 

But  to  return  to  the  argument  from  which  we 
have  insensibly  digressed.  If  you  comprehend  the 
drift  and  effect  of  the  observations  I  have  offered 
on  the  reasons  which  may  justify  a  man  qualified 
to  become  a  missionary  spending  his  life  at  home, 
you  will  perceive  that  the  limits  of  the  ground  on 
which  many  think  they  stand  fairly  exempted  from 
actual  service  are  narrowing  fast ;  that  many,  if  they 
admit  our  views  of  the  paramount  claims  of  the 
work  pf  Christ  among  the  heathen,  will  feel  them- 
selves shut  up  to  the  necessity  of  engaging  in  it, 
or  of  doing  violence  to  their  convictions  of  duty. 

The  claims  of  dependent  relatives  will  not  ex- 
empt a  man,  if  those  relatives  may  be  provided  for 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  093 

in  the  event  of  his  going-  abroad.  The  opinions  or 
wishes  of  relatives  or  other  interested  persons 
cannot  be  sustained  as  sufficient  ground  of  exemp- 
tion. The  plea  of  being  useful  in  the  cause  by- 
pecuniary  aid,  and  the  employment  of  a  portion  of 
time* and  influence  cannot  be  admitted;  neither  can 
assistance,  rendered  even  to  the  amount  of  support- 
ing a  laborer,  in  the  field,  exempt  a  man  who  is 
qualified  to  serve  in  his  own  person  ;  neither  will 
the  plea  of  intended  devotement  to  the  cause  of 
Christ  at  home,  where  laborers  are  abundant,  and 
where  men  who  cannot  go  abroad  ought  to  be 
stationed.  So  long  as  there  is  a  great  scarcity  of 
men  for  foreign  service,  the  obligation  to  go  is 
doubly  imperious. 

But  what  shall  we  say  of  a  minister  of  sterling 
piety,  various  learning,  good  talents,  of  sound  con- 
stitution, in  the  prime  of  life,  and  without  relative 
ties  that  forbid  his  removal  ?  This  I  feel  to  be 
delicate — sacred  ground,  and  therefore  I  would 
enter  upon  it  tenderly  and  with  diffidence.  But  in 
my  humble  opinion,  there  may  be  cases  (perhaps 
not  a  few)  where  a  Christian  pastor  is  comfortably- 
settled,  beloved  by  his  people,  and  his  labors 
blessed  among  them,  while,  nevertheless,  both  he 
and  the  church  would  ultimately  be  gainers  by  his 
forsaking  all  for  Christ.  His  place  would  be  sup- 
plied— his  people  would  feel  themselves  more  than 
ever  identified  with  the  cause  of  missions.  They 
would  follow  him  with  their  prayers,  and  sympa- 
thize in  his  joys  and  sorrows  as  in  some  sense  their 
own.  It  would  be  long  before  they  forgot  the 
joy  and  the  grief  of  that  moment  when  they  were 
enabled  by  the  grace  of  God  to  part  with  a  beloved 
pastor,  and  say,  «  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done  ;" 
when  they  gave  him  up  in  generous  love  to  the 


OQ4  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

souls  of  heathen  who  had  more  need  of  such  a 
teacher  than  themselves  ;  and  it  would  be  long 
before  they  would  cease,  "  at  morning  time  "  to  re- 
member him.     . 

It  is  proper  to  observe  at  the  same  time,  that  in 
ordinary  cases  it  is  a  very  questionable  step  for  a 
minister  at  home  to  break  up  his  engagements, 
which  it  is  to  be  presumed  he  entered  into  after 
solemn  deliberation,  much  prayer,  and  entire  con- 
viction of  duty.  But  it  is  possible  to  conceive,  nay 
perhaps  it  is  not  uncommon  for  ministers  to  have 
entered  upon  their  work  without  ever  seriously 
weighing  the  question,  whether  it  might  be  their 
duty  to  go  abroad  as  missionaries  to  the  heathen. 
And  this  may  very  easily  have  happened,  since 
even  to  this  day  the  subject  is  kept  so  much  in  the 
back  ground,  and  the  duty  of  properly  qualified 
persons  devoting  themselves  to  the  service  so  sel- 
dom pressed  upon  the  attention  of  those  whom  it 
concerns.  Hence  the  present  suggestion  that 
qualified  men,  although  settled  as  pastors,  may  be 
called  to  quit  their  flocks  and  go  to  seek  the  sheep 
that  are  wandering  without  a  shepherd,  is  but  a 
temporary  measure ;  that  is,  a  measure  rendered 
necessary  by  the  error  of  entering  upon  home 
service  from  a  defective  knowledge  of  their  duty  to 
serve  their  master  in  a  different  sphere.  If  from 
this  time  henceforth  the  subject  shall  be  so  well 
understood  that  no  man  shall  enter  upon  the  work 
of  the  ministry  at  home  before  he  has  satisfied  his 
own  mind  that  he  has  no  call  to  become  a  mission- 
ary— the  measure  now  alluded  to  of  a  pastor  leaving 
his  people,  which,  considering  all  circumstances,  is 
not  unlikely  to  be  the  duty  of  some,  will  never  need 
to  be  resorted  to. 

Ought  not  tutors  and  others,  then,  who  have  in- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  205 

fluence  over  young-  men  preparing-  for  the  ministry) 
to  bring  this  question  fully  before  them — lest  they 
should  form  home  engagements  unadvisedly,  and 
begin  to  think  of  missionary  service  when  it  may 
be  too  late,  or  at  least  when  they  must  engage  in 
it  under  disadvantages  ? 

I  have  no  idea  however  that  many  pastors  will 
determine  to  take  the  step  I  have  ventured  to  hint 
at.  At  any  rate,  sure  I  am  that  there  will  arise 
from  it  no  danger  of  the  churches  at  home  being 
left  without  instructers  by  such  desertions  ;  and  I 
am  equally  sure  that  as  to  those  devoted  men  who 
do  go  as  missionaries  to  the  heathen,  they  will 
never  be  suffered  to  want  any  good  thing  the 
friends  they  leave  can  supply,  or  their  prayers 
draw  down  from  the  God  of  all  grace  :  or  should 
their  friends  neglect  and  forget  them,  the  Lord 
whom  they  serve  will  raise  up  for  them  fathers  and 
mothers  and  sisters  and  brothers,  and  give  them  a 
hundred-fold  more  than  they  have  forsaken,  with 
persecutions — and,  in  the  world  to  come,  everlasting 
life. 

I  know  that  the  attachments  of  ministers  and 
people  are  not  to  be  treated  lightly.  Nor  is  the 
argument  altogether  without  weight  which  might 
be  urged,  that  the  affection  of  a  people  to  him  who 
labors  among  them  renders  his  services  really  of 
more  value  to  them  than  they  can  be  to  any  other 
people  ;  and,  as  they  think,  more  useful  than  the 
labors  of  any  other  individual,  however  qualified, 
could  be.  But  I  would  submit  it  to  the  calm  judg- 
ment, and  to  the  faith  of  such  a  church,  whether 
their  cheerfully  giving  up  the  instrument  by  which 
God  was  pleased  to  edify  and  comfort  their 
souls,  would  not  warrant  them  confidently  to  ex- 
pect that  he  for  whose  sake  they  had  thus  "  denied 
17* 


206  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

themselves"  would  not  suffer  them  to  be  spiritual 
losers  by  the  transaction.  And  so  far  as  the  pas- 
tor himself  might  be  concerned,  I  would  submit  it 
to  his  faith,  whether  in  such  a  case,  whatever 
might  be  his  feelings  in  parting  with  an  affectionate 
people,  not  however  leaving  them  destitute,  but 
seeing  them  intrusted  to  the  care  of  another  faith- 
ful "shepherd,"  he  might  not  "assuredly  gather" 
that  he  might  Avarrantably  join  the  company  of 
them  who  go  "  to  call  the  sheep  that  wander  yet :" 
nay,  that  it  would  be  shrinking  from  duty,  and 
declining  a  noble  and  generous  service  to  stay  be- 
hind. 

One  of  our  best  practical  writers  says,  "  The  day 
is  near  when  unfaithful  ministers  will  wish  they 
had  never  known  their  charge ;  but  that  they  had 
been  employed  in  the  meanest  occupation,  instead 
of  being  pastors  of  Christ's  flock,  when,  beside  all 
the  rest  of  their  sins,  they  shall  have  the  blood  of 
so  many  souls  to  answer  for."  But  this  observation 
suggests  a  query,  If  any  one,  in  order  to  shift  off 
the  responsibility,  and  escape  the  possible  guilt  of 
unfaithfulness  as  a  Christian  minister  or  missionary, 
decline  the  office,  hiding  his  talent  and  spending  his 
days  in  useless  security,  is  he  guiltless  ?  or  is  he 
chargeable  with  the  blood  of  the  souls  that  might 
have  been  warned  and  instructed,  and  for  whose 
salvation  he  might  and  should  have  labored  ?  I 
doubt  not  but  he  is.  O  !  it  is  a  solemn  thing  to 
be  intrusted  with  a  talent!  It  is  not  at  our  own 
option  to  employ  it  or  not ;  nor  are  we  at  liberty 
to  employ  it  where  it  may  gain  half  a  talent  more  • 
if  we  might  have  laid  it  out  where  it  could  have 
gained  double. 

The  author  just  now  referred  to  says  in  another 
place  to  the  same  effect.     "  It  will  not  serve  your 


LETTERS  ON   MISSIONS.  207 

turn  to  run  out  of  the  vineyard  on  pretence  that 
you  cannot  do  the  work.  [God]  can  follow  you 
and  overtake  you  as  he  did  Jonah  with  such  a 
storm  as  shall  'lay  you  in  the  belly  of  hell.' 
Totally  to  cast  off  duty  because  you  cannot  endure 
to  be  faithful  in  the  performance  of  it,  will  prove 
but  a  poor  excuse  at  last."* 

To  sum  up  the  whole,  I  am  clearly  of  opinion 
that  many,  individuals,  ministers,  students  and 
private  members  of  churches  of  various  ranks  who 
are  staying-  at  home,  ought  "to  forsake  all"  and 
follow  Christ  as  preachers  of  the  Gospel  to  the  poor 
dying  heathen.  This  is  an  awfully  serious  subject. 
It  involves  nothing  less,  so  far  as  human  agents 
are  concerned,  than  the  question,  whether  these 
millions  upon  millions  of  idolaters  shall  live  and 
die,  "  without  Christ  and  without  hope  in  the 
world,"  or  whether  "  they  shall  hear  the  Gospel  and 
believe  and  be  saved?"  O  what  a  tremendous 
responsibility  rests  Avith  them  who  have  the  bread 
of  life !  I  make  no  allusion  to  individuals.  I 
have  no  particular  body  of  Christians  in  my  eye. 
But  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  I  see  in  this  want 
of  real  practical  effective  concern  for  the  souls  of 
perishing  men — this  want  of  zeal  in  spreading  the 
Gospel  among  the  heathen — one  reason  why  the 
faithful  preaching  of  it  is  so  little  blessed  at  home. 
Is  there  not  room  to  suspect  that  God  may  be 
looking  with  a  frown  instead  of  a  smile  upon  the 
labors  of  a  man,  who,  faithfully  as  he  may  be 
preaching  the  Gospel  to  a  congregation  of  professed 
Christians,  is  hiding  in  a  corner  among  them  the 
talent  that  might  have  told  with  effect  against  the 

*  Baxter's  Reformed  Pastor. 


OQg  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS, 

fabric  of  heathen  idolatry  ?*  Is  there  not  reason 
to  suspect  that  he  may  here  find  the  secret  cause 
of  his  laboring  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  and  from 
year  to  year  without  seeing  much,  if  any,  actual 
fruit  of  his  labors  ?  Is  there  not  reason  to  suspect 
that  the  church,  sitting  under  its  own  vine  and  fig 
tree,  but  after  the  example  of  its  pastor,  little  car- 
ing for  others,  should  have  little  of  the  presence  of 
God  in  their  souls  and  little  manifestation  of  his 
blessing  among  them  as  a  body  ?  "There  is  that 
scattereth  and  yet  increaseth,  and  there  is  that 
withholdeth  more  than  is  meet  and  it  tendeth  to 
poverty."  If  they  concern  not  themselves  about 
sending  food  to  them  that  are  perishing  of  hunger, 
is  it  to  be  wondered  at  if  God  command  the  clouds 
that  they  rain  no  rain  upon  their  vineyard ;  and 
that  he  withholds  his  blessing  both  from  their 
basket  and  their  store  ? 

I  am  yours,  &c. 

P.  S.  It  may  occur  to  you  that  the  strain  of 
this  letter  is  at  variance  with  what  I  have  said  in 
another  place  about  a  prtdilection  for  the  mission- 
ary work  as  one  of  the  qualifications  of  a  proper 
candidate  for  that  department  of  labor,  inasmuch 
as  I  have  now  been  attempting  to  show  that 
various  descriptions  of  persons  otherwise  qualified 
ought  to  become  missionaries,  while,  according  to 
the  supposition  we  make  of  the  state  of  their  minds, 


*  Query,  How  would  it  do  for  a  minister  in  such  circum- 
stances to  preach  to  his  people  by  way  of  accommodation 
from  Acts  xiii.  46 — ("  It  was  necessary  that  the  word  of  God 
should  first  have  been  spoken  to  you. ;  but  seeing-  you  put  it 
from  you,  and  judge  yourselves  unworthy  of  eternal  lile,  to,  we 
turn  to  the  Gentiles,")  and  act  accordingly?  Comp.  chap, 
xviii.  G.  and  xxviii.  28. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  209 

they  want  this  characteristic  mark.  But  I  take 
this  predilection  to  be  a  thing-  which  may  be 
acquired,  and  acquired  simply  by  a  pious  and 
devoted  mind  being  directed  with  due  attention  to 
the  consideration  of  the  subject.  I  have  spoken 
of  learning  also  as  among  the  qualifications  of  a 
missionary ;  but  learning  is  an  acquirement,  not  a 
natural  gift.  They  possess  peculiar  advantages 
who  have  made  this  acquirement  {i.  e.  learning)  in 
early  life,  and  they  stand  upon  vantage  ground 
who  have  had  their  attention  early  turned  to  the 
missionary  work,  and  so  have  betimes  acquired  the 
predilection  for  it,  to  which  we  have  given  a  ptace 
among  the  list  of  qualifications.  But  it  may 
happen  that  diligent  study  at  a  later  period  of  life 
may  repair  the  defects  of  a  neglected  education  in 
youth.  And  the  attention  of  a  pious  man  being  at 
length  directed  to  the  nature  and  obligation  of 
missionary  service  among  the  heathen,  he  may 
acquire,  though  late,  the  preference  for  the 
work  which  a  right  hearted  missionary  ought  to 
possess. 

The  predilection  I  speak  of  is  not  a  romantic, 
enthusiastic  feeling,  resting  upon  no  sufficient 
grounds,  and  for  which  no  adequate  cause  can  be 
assigned  ;  but  a  sober,  although  warm  and  decided 
choice  and  preference  of  that  which  recommends 
itself  to  the  enlightened  and  sanctified  judgment,  as 
well  as  to  the  best  dispositions  of  the  renewed 
mind.  And  the  work  is  one  which  may  well  beget 
such  a  desire  to  engage  in  it — and  fully  justify  the 
choice  made  of  it,  a  choice  rational  and  laudable, 
and  as  honorable  to  thf  head  as  to  the  heart  of 
him  who  forms  it. 

I  think  it  quite  consistent  therefore  to  press  upon 
a  suitable  person  the  duty  of  devoting  himself  to 


210  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

this  cause  ;  his  not  already  possessing  a  predilec- 
tion for  it  may  be  owing  to  want  of  due  consider- 
ation of  its  claims.  He  may  have  wanted  light 
to  see  it  as  worthy  of  being  preferred  to  certain 
other  objects  of  pursuit,  which  hitherto  may  have 
appeared  to  him  the  best  and  most  important.  But 
by  acquiring  j aster  and  more  enlightened  views  of 
duty,  he  may  become  possessed  of  the  desire  to  en- 
gage in  this  "  good  work." 

This  view  of  the  subject  will  at  the  same  time 
obviate  the  objection,  that  our  affections  are  not  at 
our  own  command  ;  and  that  we  cannot  love  and 
hate,  and  choose  and  reject,  at  the  bidding  of 
another.  It  is  sufficient  to  repel  this  excuse,  should 
it  ever  be  urged  by  one  who  pleads  the  disqualifica- 
tion of  not  having  a  predilection  for  this  service  as 
a  reason  why  he  should  not  undertake  it,  to  point 
to  the  numerous  precepts  of  Scripture  where  men 
are  commanded  to  exercise  love,  desire,  hatred, 
fear,  &c.  This  of  course  is  to  be  accomplished 
with  the  help  of  God,  and  simply  by  setting  and 
keeping  steadily  before  the  mind  the  objects  suited 
to  excite  these  respective  affections. 

Should  any  one  possessing  the  requisite  qualifi- 
cations in  point  of  learning,  talent,  and,  as  far  as 
men  might  judge,  piety,  and  having  no  reasonable 
ground  for  declining  this  service  of  Christ,  still 
feel  no  desire  to  engage  in  it — feel  no  predilection 
for  it,  after  having  the  subject  properly  brought 
before  him,  that  person,  I  grant  you,  is  most  un- 
doubtedly disqualified,  and  ought  by  no  means  to 
assume  a  character  in  which  lie  could  at  best  but 
act  the  hypocrite. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  2Q 


LETTER    XV. 

ON    THE     INFLUENCE     OF     SUCCESS    OX  MISSIONARY 
OPERATIONS. 

My  dear  Friend, 

The  measure  of  success  in  a  matter  of  ascer- 
tained duty  ought  not  to  be  made  the  measure  of 
our  zeal  in  the  performance  of  it.  Yet  who  is  not 
sensible  of  the  general  proneness  to  adopt  this 
standard  of  measurement.  Success,  which  is  at 
best  but  an  encouragement  to  persevere  and  abound 
more  and  more,  is  made  the  main  spring  of  obe- 
dience. This  is  taking  an  ultimate  effect,  and 
turning  it  into  a  primary  cause — inverting  the 
natural  process  of  proce  ding  under  a  sense  of 
duty,  in  the  hope  of  final  success,  and  giving  to 
present  success  the  power  of  an  impelling  motive  ; 
and  to  the  want  of  present  success  the  power  of  a 
prohibition  to  persist  farther  in  the  performance  of 
the  duty. 

Were  this  practical  error  exhibited  to  view  in 
this  naked  form,  many  would  disclaim  it ; — they 
would  admit  that  they  feel  encouraged  when  their 
labors  are  successful,  and  discouraged  when  they 
are  not :  but  that  they  make  success  or  defeat  the 
criterion  of  duty,  and  the  spring  of  action,  they 
deny.  Be  it  so,  and  let  their  conduct  prove  that 
we  were  mistaken. 

These  observations  are  not  offered  because  I 
think  the  missions  now  in  operation  are,  generally 
speaking,  not  blessed  with  success  in  the  degree 
that  might  have  been  expected ;  but  because  I 
think  it  of  prime  importance  to  adhere  scrupulously 


212  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

to  principles.  A  departure  from  them  may  seem 
at  first  a  trivial  error,  but  in  the  end  may  produce 
the  most  disastrous  consequences.  And  I  should 
have  thought  it  not  the  less  necessary  to  expose 
the  evil  of  converting  success  into  a  criterion  of  the 
favor  of  heaven,  or  a  chief  incentive  of  zea],  had 
every  plan  for  the  evangelization  of  the  heathen 
been  successful  to  the  utmost  extent  of  the  wishes 
of  the  agents  employed.  I  should  then  have 
thought  it  equally  needful  to  lift  up  a  warning 
voice  to  prepare  them  for  a  possible  reverse.  I  should 
have  considered  it  time  to  give  a  serious  premoni- 
tion that  it  might  be  well  to  count  upon  yet  unknown 
trials  of  their  faith — "  a  great  fight  of  afflictions" — 
the  withering  of  their  fairest  hopes — the  defection  of 
converts — the  introduction  and  spread  of  errors — 
the  blast  and  mildew  of  heresy  and  schism — or  the 
revival  of  the  spirit  of  idolatry  in  countries  where 
it  appeared  to  have  been  utterly  extinguished — 
and  to  examine  how  far  their  criterion  and  incen- 
tive would  stand  them  in  stead  in  those  circum- 
stances. 

It  is  not  so  much  from  the  view  I  take  of  the 
prosperity  or  adversity  that  forms  the  prominent 
feature  in  the  history  of  any  particular  mission, 
nor  of  the  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the  at- 
tainment of  the  object  of  missions  generally,  that  I 
have  adverted  to  this  subject,  as  from  a  persuasion 
that  the  evil  against  which  these  remarks  are 
pointed  is  common  to  all  ages,  to  all  parties,  to  all 
circumstances,  to  the  missionary  abroad  and  to  the 
friends  of  missions  at  home. 

Future  ultimate  success,  as  we  have  the  most 
ample  assurance,  is  certain.  This  we  "  believe  and 
therefore  speak"  and  labor  ;  and  hence  the  work 
of  the  ministry  is  "a  work  of  faith,"  and  any  pre- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  213 

sent  tokens  of  divine  power  in  giving"  effect  to  the 
word  of  reconciliation  are  to  be  improved  for 
strengthening  that  faith,  while  they  cause  many- 
thanksgivings  to  God.  But  this  does  not  render 
the  ministry,  at  least  it  ought  not,  a  work  of  sense ; 
but  this  is  in  effect  done,  if  we  abuse  the  present 
effect  of  our  labors,  whether  prosperous  or  ad- 
verse, by  making  that  the  measure  and  rule  of  our 
duty. 

Read  over  the  epistles  to  Timothy  and  Titus, 
those  rich  magazines  of  divine  wisdom  in  all  that 
relates  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  mark  if 
they  contain  a  single  sentiment  that  can  be  con- 
strued as  favoring  the  idea  that  the  visible  and 
immediate  success  of  our  efforts  is  to  be  taken  for 
our  encouragement  to  labor,  or  the  contrary  a 
reason  for  relinquishing  the  work,  or  growing  slack 
in  the  performance  of  it.  There  is  much  said 
about  the  character  of  the  men  engaged  in  this 
sacred  service,  much  about  their  duties,  their 
trials,  their  support,  their  example,  their  making 
full  proof  of  their  ministry ;  but  not  a  word  of 
success  as  any  concern  Of  theirs  in  the  way  of 
motive.  Having  devoted  their  lives  to  the  ministry 
of  the  Gospel,  it  would  have  been  preposterous  if 
they  had  been  indifferent  whether  their  labors 
were  successful  or  not.  But  feeling  the  deepest 
interest  in  the  work  itself,  and  the  strongest  desire 
to  see  the  effect  of  their  exertions,  they  must, 
nevertheless,  assured  that  the  power  to  "  send 
prosperity"  was  in  better  hands  than  theirs,  go  on 
cheerfully  and  zealously  in  their  work,  feeling 
themselves  in  a  certain  sense  independent  of  the 
immediate  results  whether  as  affecting  their  hearers 
or  themselves.  Paul  speaks  of  having  "great  sor- 
row and  continual  heaviness  in  his  heart  on  ac- 
18 


214  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

count  of  his  unbelieving"  brethren  the  Jews,"  and 
concerning  the  Galatians  he  says,  he  "  travailed 
in  birth  till  Christ  was  formed  in  them ;"  but  what 
if  they  had  not  believed — would  the  apostle's  zeal 
have  cooled,  or  his  hands  grown  feeble  ?  By  no 
means.  Success  drew  forth  his  thanksgivings  to  God. 
"  Now  thanks  be  unto  God  who  always  oauseth 
us  to  triumph  in  Christ  and  maketh  manifest  the 
savor  of  his  knowledge  by  us  in  every  place." 
Over  the  hardness  and  impenitence  and  aggravated 
wickedness  of  men  he  wept,  exclaiming,  "Of  whom 
I  have  told  you  often,  and  now  tell  you  even  iveeping, 
that  they  are  the  enemies  of  the  cross  of  Christ." 
But  I  suppose  the  apostles  were  not  made  more 
zealous  in  consequence  of  many  becoming  obedient 
to  the  faith,  than  by  seeing  that  many  rejected 
the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves.  In  a 
word,  they  labored  not  because  they  were  suc- 
cessful, but  that  they  might  be  so  ;  not  because 
they  saw  the  fruit  of  their  labors,  but  in  the  hope 
of  reaping  "  in  due  time,"  if  they  fainted  not — 
and  they  knew  that  their  labor  ultimately  should 
"  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 

The  same  thing  might  be  further  illustrated, 
were  it  necessary  to  enlarge  upon  it  by  a  reference 
to  the  manner  in  which  Paul  speaks  of  his  own 
trials.  Observe  in  what  light  he  regards  a  fruitless 
attempt  to  introduce  the  Gospel  into  a  town  or 
district,  how  he  bears  up  when  the  enemy  prevails, 
how  he  comforts  himself  in  his  chains ;  and  on  the 
other  hand,  how  lie  regards  the  fact  of  many  sin- 
ners being  turned  to  the  Lord.  In  the  former 
case  he  grieves,  in  the  latter  he  rejoices  ;  but  his 
determination  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  cause 
of  Christ,  seems  independent  altogether  of  the 
things  that  befal  him. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  215 

I  would  not  infer  from  so  little  being  said  in 
the  New  Testament  about  success,  that  the 
labors  of  God's  faithful  servants  will  not  be 
blessed  ;  but  I  would  conclude  from  this  not  being 
brought  prominently  forward,  as  a  thing  which 
must  visibly  accompany  the  steps  and  crown  the 
exertions  of  those  who  are  on  the  Lord's  side, 
that  they  are  to  be  mainly  concerned  about  doing 
their  duty,  doing  their  part,  believing  that  God  in 
his  own  time  and  way  will  do  his.  Among  the 
many  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises 
given  them,  there  is  not  one  that  assures  them 
specifically  and  individually  of  prosperity  in 
their  undertakings.  But  there  are  many  pro- 
mises of  comfort,  strength,  assistance,  direction — 
yea,  all  grace  while  they  are  warring  the  good 
warfare.  And  along  with  this  are  exhortations  to 
courage,  diligence,  patience,  perseverance.  And 
so  believers,  both  as  to  their  individual  salvation, 
and  the  accomplishment  of  God's  purposes  of  mercy 
to  the  world  at  large,  are  taught  to  "be  steadfast, 
unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord."  We  must  sow  before  we  reap,  we  must 
fight  before  we  conquer,  we  must  suffer  with  Christ 
before  we  reign  with  him. 

This  I  take  to  be  the  "due  order"  and  I  con- 
ceive it  to  be  highly  necessary  both  for  ministers 
abroad  and  their  constituents  at  home  to  keep  con- 
stant sight  of  it.  If  missionaries  forget  it,  they 
must  faint  under  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day, 
or  retire  from  their  post  in  despair.  If  the  friends 
of  missions  at  home  forget  it,  they  will  grow  weary 
of  supporting  at  a  great  expense  foreign  establish- 
ments that  bring  no  returns  adequate  to  their 
expectations. 

It  -appears,  then,  that  to  labor  and  wait,  believ- 


216  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

ing  that  after  they  have  patiently  endured  they  shall 
obtain  the  promise,  is  the  mofej>ox£ejlent  way.  But 
this  is  very  different  from  the  notion  of  those  who 
are  impatient  for  tokens  of  success,  from  which 
they  may  derive  a  stimulus  to  farther  exertion,  and 
if  they  cannot  perceive  such  tokens,  think  them- 
selves warranted  to  give  up  what  they  call  the 
"  hopeless  struggle." 

Viewing  the  matter  in  this  light,  I  was  very 
sorry  to  find  that  an  able  and  enlightened  friend 
of  missions  had  suffered  the  following  sentence  to 
escape  from  his  pen.  "  Increase  the  piety,  the 
intelligence,  the  enterprize,  and  the  success  of 
foreign  missionaries,  and  you  increase  in  nearly 
an  equal  proportion  the  co-operation  at  home,  by 
which  that  success  must  be  maintained  and  im- 
proved." The  circumstance  of  success,  to  be  sure, 
is  here  classed  along  Avith  several  other  conditions 
of  "  securing  the  increase  of  co-operation  at  home." 
And  so  far  I  admit  that  all  is  well,  and  I  per- 
fectly agree  with  the  author  in  thinking  that  in- 
creased success  would  elicit  increased  interest  and 
support.  But  this  implies  that  inverted  order  of 
procedure  I  am  endeavoring  to  expose.  The 
co-operation  is  not  to  precede,  but  to  follow  the 
success.  There  may  be  all  the  "  piety,  intelli- 
gence, and  enterprize"  requisite  on  the  part  of 
the  missionary,  but  his  receiving  increased  co- 
operation is  suspended  upon  his  being  successful ; 
that  is  to  say,  so  long  as  there  is  no  actual  success 
there  is  to  be  almost  as  little  support.  What 
would  be  thought  of  conducting  a  common  Avar  on 
this  principle  ?  Send  a  small  body  of  troops  to  the 
field  against  the  enemy,  and  wait  till  you  hear  of 
their  having  made  a  successful  campaign  before  you 
think  of  strengthening  them  by  necessary  reinforce- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  217 

merits  of  men  and  additional  store  of  arms  and 
ammunition  !  The  author  of  the  sentence  I  have 
quoted,  represents  the  increased  co-operation,  as 
in  order  to  maintain  and  improve  the  success 
already  gained,  which  it  may  be  said  does  not 
imply  a  deficiency  of  previous  support.  Eut  in 
point  of  fact  it  does,  and  were  this  the  place  for 
showing  it,  I  could  remind  you  of  some  very 
affecting  instances  of  a  mission  being  left  to 
languish;  the  necessary  support  being  denied  it, 
because  it  was  not  flourishing  and  successful ! 

Present  success  is  desirable.  Visible  proofs  of 
not  laboring  in  vain  are  cheering.  But  the  final 
result  is  certain,  and  the  path  of  duty  is  plain. 
Let  that  path  be  pursued  with  undeviating  and 
unfaltering  steps.  The  way  to  give  glory  to 
God  is  to  be  strong  in  faith.  He  who  stands  still, 
or  looks  back,  or  looks  around,  anxiously  waiting 
for  some  signs  of  God's  fulfilling  his  promise  as  a 
rule  for  persevering  in  the  course  or  relinquishing 
it,  may  expect  to  be  made  (without  being  changed 
into  a  pillar  of  salt,  but  as  effectually  as  Lot's 
wife)  a  monument  of  God's  wrath,  and  a  warning 
to  succeeding  laborers  to  attend  to  nothing  but  the 
command  of  God  to  go  forward. 

Much  in  sorrow,  oft  in  wo, 
Onward  Christians,  onward  go, 
Fight  the  fight,  and  worn  with  strife 
Steep  with  tears  the  bread  of  life  '. 

It  is  not  very  gratifying  to  the  readers  of  mis- 
sionary intelligence,  to  receive  accounts  of  un- 
toward events — and  accordingly  it  is  thought 
expedient  to  withhold  such  details  from  them  ; 
and  perhaps  there  is  wisdom  in  this,  so  long  as 
many  of  the  friends  and  supporters  of  missions 
derive  their  chief  stimulus  to  exertion  from  the 
18* 


218  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

glowing  representations  set  before  them  of  the 
triumphant  progress  of  the  cause  of  truth.  But  I 
am  persuaded,  that  there  is  a  numerous  class  of 
Christians  more  judicious  and  better  established  in 
the  knowledge  and  feeling  of  their  duty,  who, 
instead  of  being  damped  or  stumbled  by  a  candid 
exposure  of  the  real  circumstances  of  the  missionary 
undertakings  to  which  they  contribute,  would  be 
greatly  benefited  by  being  put  in  complete  pos- 
session of  facts.  Would  they  not  realize  better 
the  situation  of  the  missionary  ?--pray  more  em- 
phatically and  more  appropriately  for  him,  and  for 
the  people  among  whom  he  is  laboring — he  some- 
times fears — in  vain  ?  Would  they  not  acquire  a 
better  idea  of  the  real  arduousness  of  the  work, 
and  set  themselves  to  help  it  forward  with  cor- 
responding zeal  and  resolution  and  devotedness  ? 
Would  they  not  be  better  able  to  judge  of  the 
wisdom  of  plans  proposed  to  be  adopted,  or  might 
not  the  wisdom  of  some  suggest  hints  which 
might  be  of  the  first  moment  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
work  ?  As  things  are,  many  of  the  most  able  and 
judicious  friends  of  missions,  unless  they  happen 
to  be  in  the  direction  of  a  Society,  are  kept  in 
ignorance  of  the  real  situation  of  missions,  and  so 
are  disqualified  to  judge  what  is  for  the  true  inter- 
est of  the  cause.* 

The    Christian     laborer     among     the     heathen, 
would   not,    even    in    very    discouraging    circum- 

•  *  Some  of  these  remarks  must  be  qualified,  in  their  bearing 
upon  the  directors  of  missions  to  the  heathen  acting-  under  the 
appointment  of  societies  in  the  United  Slates.  The  cases  are 
believed  to  be  very  few,  where  such  details,  in  relation  to 
American  missions,  have  been  withheld  from  the  public— Am. 
Ed. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  219 

stances,  be  justified  in  quitting  his  post  while  he 
could  retain  it  and  perform  its  duties.  His  con- 
stituents would  justly  consider  him  as  betraying 
an  impatient  and  presumptuous  spirit,  were  he 
hastily  to  leave  the  service  of  his  Master  because 
he  did  not  succeed  in  accomplishing  the  work 
undertaken  so  speedily,  or  to  so  great  an  extent 
as  he  wished  and  expected.  Perhaps,  however, 
it  would  be  allowed  to  such  a  laborer  to  feel 
keenly  in  such  a  situation,  to  be  filled  with  deep 
concern,  dwelling  in  the  midst  of  a  gainsaying 
people,  mad  upon  their  idols,  and  after  all  his 
efforts  remaining  impenitent,  unaffected,  hostile  to 
the  Gospel,  or  caring  nothing  about  the  matter.  But 
if  so,  has  not  the  laborer,  in  the  circumstances 
supposed,  a  peculiar  claim  upon  the  Christian  sym- 
pathy and  prayers  of  his  brethren  at  home  ?  And 
as  they  would  have  him  to  continue  to  labor  and 
not  faint,  should  not  they  continue  to  encourage 
him,  strengthen  his  hands  and  cheer  his  heart,  by 
the  assurance  of  their  interest  in  his  welfare 
and  prosperity,  by  their  kind  words  and  good 
offices  ? 

It  is  granted  that  the  want  of  success  may  some- 
times be  traced  to  the  missionary  himself.  He 
may  be  chargeable  with  some  fatal  error  in  judg- 
ment or  practice,  which  may  provoke  God  to  with- 
hold his  blessing.  But  ought  it  not  to  be  likewise 
considered  that  the  Christian  societies,  under 
whose  sanction  the  missionary  acts,  may  come  in 
for  a  share  of  such  guilt  ?  Is  it  not  possible  that 
the  want  of  faith,  prayer,  zeal  in  the  professed 
friends  of  the  missionary  cause  at  home,  may  be 
one  cause  of  the  small  success  of  their  missionaries 
abroad  ? 

If  lukewarmness  is  emphatically  displeasing  to 


220  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS, 

God,  and  calls  forth  the  severest  expressions  of 
his  abhorrence,  if  he  threatens  utterly  to  reject 
the  Laodicean  and  his  heartless  service,  is  there 
no  room  for  inquiry,  whether  God  may  not  find 
this  character  adhering  to  many  who  rank  them- 
selves with  the  promoters  of  the  grand  design  of 
" preaching  the  Gospel  to  every  creature?"  May 
not  the  many  at  home  who  constitute  the  body  of  a 
missionary  society,  if  they  are  neither  "cold  nor 
hot"  in  this  cause,  have  the  effect  upon  the 
labors  of  their  agents  abroad,  which  a  paralysis 
of  a  vital  organ  has  upon  the  limbs  ? 

But  I  have  wandered  from  the  thing  I  intended 
to  say,  which  was  this — that  Christians  at  home  of 
a  right  spirit  will  be  equally  disposed  to  sympathize 
with  missionaries  in  the  failure  of  their  attempts, 
as  to  rejoice  with  them  in  their  success ;  and 
although  the  latter  is  of  course  the  more  pleasant 
duty,  the  former  will  be  no  less  recognized  to  be 
a  duty. 

In  short,  I  repeat  that  it  is  not  the  success  of 
their  efforts,  but  the  express  command  of  God  that 
must  be  regarded  as  the  great  and  unchangeable 
stimulus  to  exertion ;  and  the  use  to  be  made  of 
success  is  to  "  thank  God  and  take  courage,"  while 
the  use  to  be  made  of  partial  defeat  is  to  learn 
from  it  to  pursue  with  more  devoted  zeal,  humility, 
and  prayer.,  the  solemn  and  arduous  work,  "  pray- 
ing with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the  Spirit, 
and  watching  thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and 
supplication  for  all  saints,"  Especially,  let  the 
friends  of  missionaries  pray  more  fervently  for 
them,  "that  utterance  may  be  given  unto  them, 
that  they  may  open  their  mouth  boldly  to  make 
known  the  mystery  of  the  Gospel." 

I  feel  it  difficult  in  handling  such  a  subject  as 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  221 

this  to  keep  clear  of  one  error,  while  endeavoring 
to  expose  its  opposite.  To  prevent  misconception, 
therefore,  I  will  merely  state  before  I  conclude, 
that  to  represent  it  as  wrong  to  make  the  measure  of 
our  success  the  rule  of  our  duty,  does  not  imply 
either  argumentatively,  or  in  real  experience,  that 
we  are  to  be  indifferent  as  to  the  result  of  our 
labors.  On  the  contrary,  the  man  who  utterly  dis- 
claims the  idea  of  the  visible  happy  effects  of  his 
exertions  being  made  his  reason  for  continuing  to 
exert  himself,  may,  whether  successful  or  not,  have 
the  most  earnest,  longing  desires  for  a  blessing 
upon  his  engagements.  Nay,  unless  he  feel  deeply 
concerned  about  the  issue  of  all  his  pains,  and  toils, 
and  watching,  and  prayers  for  the  conversion  of 
souls,  I  cannot  conceive  how  he  can  be  earnestly 
engaged  in  the  matter.  If  his  heart  be  thus  set 
upon  the  success  of  his  work,  the  want  of  it  will 
but  prove  the  greater  trial  of  his  faith  and  patience  ; 
but  these  will  be  strengthened  by  the  trial.  "  He 
never  had  the  right  ends  of  a  preacher  in  view 
who  is  indifferent  whether  he  obtains  them  or 
not,  who  is  not  grieved  when  he  misses  them,  and 
rejoiced  when  he  can  see  the  desired  issue." 

In  a  word,  we  must  "walk  by  faith,  not  by 
sight,"  and  with  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Hebrews 
in  your  eye,  I  leave  you  to  judge  whether  faith  be 
not  a  principle  that  can  animate  an  obedience  more 
devoted,  universal,  and  persevering,  than  can  even 
spring  from  the  sight  of  the  eyes,  or  the  hearing 
of  the  ears. 


222  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 


LETTER    XVI. 

DEFECTS    IN    THE    MODE     OF     ADVOCATING    THE 
CAUSE    OF    MISSIONS. 

My  dear  Friend, 

I  have  just  turned  over  some  volumes  of 
missionary  sermons  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
what  are  the  principal  things  generally  insisted  on, 
in  order  to  stimulate  Christians  to  exertion  in  the 
cause.  It  is  truly  refreshing  to  the  spirit  to  con- 
template so  many  just,  striking,  and  able  exhi- 
bitions of  Christian  truth  as  these  productions 
contain — to  mark  the  catholic  spirit  they  uniformly 
breathe — the  expanded  Christian  charity  that  glows 
in  them  for  the  salvation  of  the  whole  family  of 
man.  But  I  confess  it  has  been  with  disappoint- 
ment and  grief  I  have  noticed  a  certain  defect  in 
many  of  them.  With  all  the  prominence  given  to 
many  arguments,  and  the  ingenuity  displayed  in 
selecting  and  applying  them,  there  is  one  argument 
in  not  a  few  discourses  not  even  once  alluded  to, 
and  scarcely  in  any  treated  as  it  ought.  I  mean 
the  command  of  Christ  to  preach  the  Gospel 
universally,  and  the  consequent  duty  of  obedience. 

Do  not  mistake  me — I  do  not  find  fault  with 
the  arguments  used  in  the  compositions  referred 
to.  Many  of  them  are  most  forcible  and  weighty 
and  appropriate  ;  but  it  appears  to  me  that  the 
matter  of  duty,  as  resulting  from  that  command, 
has  not  been  pressed  so  strongly  or  so  frequently 
as  it  ought. 

A  preacher  may  be  regulated  by  a  regard  to  the 
taste  of  his  audience  in  the  selection  and  treatment 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  223 

of  a  particular  topic  of  discussion  for  a  missionary 
sermon.  He  may  be  naturally  led  from  the  nature 
of  his  subject  to  insist  on  some  special  motive, 
encouragement,  direction  or  warning,  bearing  upon 
the  work  of  the  evangelization  of  heathen  and 
Mohammedan  nations.  And  this  may  preclude  the 
possibility  of  his  making  the  obligation  to  labor 
founded  upon  the  command  of  Christ,  a  part  of  his 
plan :  but  I  conceive  that  this  argument,  like  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  in  an  ordinary 
sermon,  should  be  implied  in  the  whole  frame  of 
the  discourse,  and  although  not  formally  enlarged 
upon,  sufficiently  intimated  to  be  perceived  in  its 
true  importance. 

It  is  not  less  undeniable  than  humiliating,  that 
many  professed  Christians  are  more  effectually 
wrought  upon  by  a  rhetorical  appeal  to  their 
passions,  than  by  a  sober  truth  accompanied  with 
its  evidence,  submitted  to  their  judgment,  or  a 
solemn  duty  charged  home  upon  their  conscience. 
And  it  must  be  confessed  that  preachers,  knowing 
the  character  of  a  great  proportion  of  the  people 
whom  they  address,  seem  to  act  wisely  in  making 
use  of  that  method  which  is  able  to  produce. the 
greatest  effect.  It  is  trite  to  observe  that  man  is  a 
being  possessed  of  passions  as  well  as  reason.  But 
the  legitimate  way  of  dealing  with  him^  is  to  ad- 
dress the  former  through  the  medium  of  the  latter — ■ 
first  to  inform  the  judgment,  and  then  call  in  the 
affections  to  aid  and  invigorate  the  conclusions  of 
reason. 

I  see  no  cause  why  the  first  place  ought  not  to 
be  given  to  that  which,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
.truly  enlightened  and  judicious,  is  first  in  impor- 
tance ;  and  this  I  conceive  would  be  paying  a  better 
compliment  even  to  the  less  enlightened,  than  the 


224  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

plan  of  treating  them  as  if  they  were  incapable  of 
being  stimulated  by  anything-  else  than  pleasing 
images  presented  to  the  imagination,  or  by  passion- 
ate appeals  to  the  sympathy,  &c.  of  the  heart. 

The  apostles  furnish  us  with  the  best  models  of 
the  method  of  enforcing  duty,  as  well  as  with  the 
matter  of  instruction  as  to  duty  itself.  We  find 
in  them  no  empty  declamation — no  attempt  to  in- 
fluence the  conduct  by  heating  the  imagination 
without  informing  the  judgment — no  exhibition  of 
motives  in  an  inverted  order — no  exhortation  with- 
out a  wherefore — no  doctrine  without  a  therefore. 
In  other  words,  there  is  no  duty  inculcated  by 
those  inspired  teachers,  without  the  exhibition  of 
the  ground  on  which  it  rests — and  the  place  it  holds 
in  the  scheme  of  Christian  obedience.  While  on 
the  other  hand  doctrines  are  uniformly  shown  to 
be  practical  in  the  spirit  and  tendency  of  them. 
Hence,  as  there  are  some  heretics  who  find  it 
necessary  to  twist  and  bend  scripture,  in  order  to 
force  it  into  something  like  a  correspondence  with 
their  sentiments — there  are  others  who,  disjoining 
doctrine  and  practice,  find  it  necessary  to  cut  and 
hew  scripture  in  pieces,  picking  up  the  detached 
fragments  that  suit  their  purpose,  and  throwing  the 
rest  away.     But  this  by  the  bye. 

To  return  then  to  the  point. — The  cause  of 
missions  is  not  recommended  to  us  merely  on  the 
principle  of  gratitude,  and  yet  it  has  here  a  most 
powerful  claim.  If  we  are  not  grateful  beyond 
expression  for  the  Gospel,  we  neither  understand 
nor  believe  it.  If  we  do  not  express  that  gratitude 
by  exerting  ourselves  to  convey  the  blessing  to 
others,  how  shall  we  prove  it?  The  cause  of 
missions  is  not  recommended  to  us  merely  on  the 
principle   of  humanity,  and  yet  we   violate   every 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  225 

feeling  and  dictate  of  humanity  if  we  neglect  to 
disseminate  the  Gospel. — This  cause  is  not  recom- 
mended to  us  merely  on  the  principle  of  justice, 
and  yet  we  are  most  evidently  unjust  if  we  with- 
hold from  others  a  blessing  to  which  they  have  an 
equal  right  with  ourselves.  If  we  have  not  an 
exclusive  right  to  the  Gospel,  we  are  fearfully  unjust 
in  not  communicating  the  knowledge  of  it  to  the 
ignorant.  May-  we  be  delivered  from  the  guilt  of 
this  "  crying  sin,"  ere  it  shall  be  said  in  accents  of 
vengeance,  "Let  him  that  is  unjust  be  unjust 
still !" 

The  cause  of  missions  is  further  recommended  to 
us  upon  the  principle  of  consistency,  and  concern 
for  our  own  best  interests  ; — as  the  best  use  we  can 
make  of  our  peculiar  privileges  and  advantages  as 
a  nation,  and  the  most  hopeful  means  of  securing 
the  continuance  of  them.  But  not  any  one  of  these 
considerations,  nor  all  of  them  put  together,  con- 
stitute the  main  strength  of  our  obligations  to  carry 
the  Gospel  to  the  idolatrous  pagan — the  deluded 
Mohammedan — the  unbelieving  Jew.  To  all  of 
them  we  should  be  bound  to  carry  it  although  we 
had  no  other  motive  to  constrain  us — no  other 
consideration  to  warrant  or  influence  us  than  this, 
that  Christ  has  said,  "Go  and  teach  (disciple)  all 
nations" — "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature."  The  avrog  tqu  of 
our  Master  is  of  infinitely  greater  force  than  the 
precepts  of  the  Samian  philosopher.  His  disci- 
ples sought  no  further  proof  or  authority  for  any 
opinion  or  practice  than  the  voice  of  their  master. 
Hoav  much  more  ought  the  disciples  of  Christ  to 
hear,  believe,  and  act  as  He  enjoins. 

We  before  borrowed  an  illustration  of  our  sub- 
ject from  military  affairs.     Let  me  take   another 
19 


226  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

from  the  same  source.  Suppose  an  order  issued 
from  the  highest  authority  in  the  kingdom,  requir- 
ing certain  faithful  subjects  to  perform  a  specific 
service  in  the  character  of  soldiers,  and  command- 
ing all  faithful  subjects  generally  to  be  aiding  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power  in  the  execution  of  the 
will  of  the  sovereign.  In  urging  the  people  to 
obedience  what  would  be  the  most  obvious,  and 
we  might  almost  say,  exclusive  topic  that  could 
present  itself  in  the  way  of  argument?  unquestion- 
ably the  authority  of  the  command.  It  must  not  be 
resisted.  It  must  not  be  neglected. — It  is  at  the 
peril  of  the  sovereign's  displeasure  and  the  loss  of 
character — and,  it  may  be,  under  the  pain  of  con- 
dign punishment,  if  it  be  not  fulfilled.  It  would 
be  self-evident  that  no  one  could  justly  retain  the 
character  of  a  loyal  subject  if  he  disobeyed  ;  and 
he  must  forfeit  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his 
better  affected  brethren  if  he  not  merely  should  re- 
fuse obedience,  but  should  attempt  to  justify  his 
conduct. 

But  again  I  ask,  what  would  be  the  effect  and 
what  would  be  the  inference  if,  instead  of  the  au- 
thority of  the  sovereign  being  insisted  on  as  the 
first  and  greatest  reason  of  r/jedience,  the  pleasing 
nature  of  the  service — the  gratifying  prospect  of 
success — the  great  good  that  would  result  from  the 
enterprize — its  accordance  with  the  best  feelings 
of  the  heart,  &c.  should  be  represented  as  the  chief 
inducements  to  set  about  performance  ?  The  effect 
must  be  that  while  many  did  not  choose  practically 
to  feel  the  force  of  these  reasons,  those-  who  did 
would  not  be  able  to  trace  their  obedience  to  the 
only  source  that  could  render  their  conduct  a  proof 
of  loyalty  and  love  to  their  prince,  viz :  reverence 
for  the  authority  of  his  command — while   the  in- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  227 

ference  might  be,  that  as  such  topics  were  brought 
forward  to  induce  their  compliance,  the  sovereign 
author  had  not  interposed  his  authority,  or  that  it 
was  not  sufficient  of  itself  to  warrant  or  to  produce 
obedience. 

I  feel  that  this  illustration,  'as  indeed  every 
illustration  taken  from  earthly  and  sensible  objects, 
must  fall  shop*''  of  the  paramount  authority  of  the 
command  of  the  King  and  Head  of  the  church,  in 
reference  to  the  extension  of  his  kingdom  and  the 
subjection  of  all  nations  to  Hint.  An  earthly  king 
is  a  mortal  man,  and  he  may  err  through  ignorance 
or  passion.  His  commands  may  be  the  dictates  of 
cruelty,  or  imbecility,  or  ambition,  or  a  wanton  ex- 
ercise of  power  ;  but  even  allowing  his  will  to  be  in 
all  respects  accordant  to  the  principles  of  the  strictest 
justice  and  highest  honor  and  universal  benevo- 
lence— his  subjects  can  never  be  under  such  ob- 
ligations to  obey  him,  as  Christians  are  to  "bring 
every  thought  into  subjection  to  the  obedience  of 
Christ."  And  if  any  one  should  disregard  his 
authority,  I  would  not  endeavor  to  work  upon 
that  man's  mind  b*  any  other  consideration.  I 
allow  other  argumentsVa  place,  but  that  place  is  a 
lower  one  than  the  authority  of  Christ.  His 
words  are  illustrative  and  confirmative  of  the  de- 
clared purpose  of  God  from  the  earliest  age,  to 
bruise  the  head  of  Satan  by  the  seed  of  the  woman, 
and  to  make  that  seed  his  salvation  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth.  fc 

The  doctrine  of  tb.e  immortality  o±  the  soul  is 
expressly  taught  in  the  volume  of  revelation. 
There  are  many  other  collateral  proofs  of  the 
doctrine.,  L  :it  that  derived  from  relation  is  not 
only  one  of  a  primary  order,  but  it  gives  strength 
and  coherence  to  all  the  rest..    In  like  manner  the 


228  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

command  to  "  preach  the  Gospel  to  all  nations.," 
is  the  prime  motive  and  warrant  to  attempt  the 
conversion  of  the  world  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  it  is 
this  that  gives  cogency,  appropriateness  and  effect 
to  all  the  reasons  that  can  be  adduced  for  zeal  and 
perseverance  in  the  glorious  project.  Had  we 
a  Gospel  to  preach  to  the  angels  that  kept  not  their 
nrst  estate,  and  had  we  access  to  them,  all  the 
considerations  of  benevolence — the  misery  of  their 
state — the  happiness  to  which  they  should  be  raised 
— the  advancement  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
reduction  of  a  portion  of  his  rebellious  creatures  to 
obedience — might  be  urged  as  so  many  incentives 
to  zeal  in  preaching  to  them ;  but  all  these  con- 
siderations go  for  nothing,  because  wt  have  no  com- 
mand to  preach  "  good  news"  to  them.  But  so 
far  as  regards  sinners  of  the  human  race,  all  these 
motives,  and  others  which  might  easily  be  set  in 
array  before  the  eye,  have  their  own  weight,  and 
ought  to  have  their  own  influence  in  connection 
with  the  divine  command,  and  as  deriving  from  it 
their  chief  value. 

It  is  high  time  that  it  be  fairly  put  to  every 
Christian,  and  to  every  Christian  church  in  the 
world,  to  vindicate  their  profession  by  a  truly 
Christian  zeal  for  the  extension  of  the  Gospel ; 
otherwise  their  sincerity  must  fall  under  suspicion. 
Nay,  they  ought  to  be  considered  as  guilty  of  a 
glaring  dereliction  of  Christian  duty,  if  it  be  not 
concluded  that  they  entirely  belie  the  Christian 
character.  Their  orthodoxy  of  creed — general 
correctness  of  conduct,  and  usefulness  in  their  im- 
mediate spheres,  or  even  their  noisy  zeal  each  for 
the  peculiarities  of  his  own  sect,  will  not  suffice 
when  he  shall  come  who  will  bring  in  against 
many  who  think  themselves  guiltless,  a  sentence  of 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  229 

condemnation  upon  this  ground,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  not  unto  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye 
did  it  not  unto  me."  It  is  high  time  that  the  false 
and  pernicious  maxim  should  be  exploded,  that  the 
profession  of  Christianity  is  easier  now-a-days  than 
"  in  the  beginning  of  the  Gospel  " — that  we  can  be 
true  and  obedient  disciples  of  Christ  at  less  ex- 
pense than  forsaking  all  we  have  for  him,  or  at 
least  being  ready  to  do  it.  But  let  this  readiness 
be  brought  to  the  test  by  going  round  with  the 
demand  for  the  sacrifice  of  superfluities  in  order  to 
supply  with  the  bread  and  water  of  life  the  perishing 
millions  of  the  heathen;  and  blot  the  name  of  every 
recusant  from  the  list  of  them  who  bear  the  yoke 
of  Christ. 

I  know  not  any  thing  that  might  by  the 
blessing  of  God  sooner  or  more  effectually  bring 
back  the  purity,  the  spirituality — the  love — the  life 
— or,  to  sum  up  all  in  one  word,  the  "  blessedness" 
of  primitive  times,  than  the  general  prevalence  of 
the  idea,  that  every  one  who  is  converted  from  the 
error  of  his  ways  should  seek  the  conversion  of 
others  also,  and  that  l;-y  all  proper  methods  which 
zeal  and  love,  tempered  and  directed  by  wisdom, 
dictate — that  the  disciple  of  Christ  ought  to  seek 
to  make  more  disciples — by  word  and  deed — by 
earnest  and  self-denied  endeavors,  as  well  as  by 
persevering  prayer. 

Many  find  the  profession  of  Christianity  easy 
because  they  make  it  so.  Instead  of  that  profes- 
sion implying  any  remarkable  sacrifice  of  fortune 
or  ease,  it  is  in  many  instances  the  direct  road  to 
credit,  wealth  and  fame.  The  gate  of  ibm  church 
is  wider  than  the  narrow  way  that  leadeth  to 
eternal  life,  "  and  many  there  be  that  go  in 
thereat,"  and  the  professing  world  tacitly  consen 
19* 


230  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

to  have  it  so ;  and  so  men  compliment  one  an- 
other upon  their  liberality.  They  bless  themselves 
in  their  nests,  and  think  themselves  happy  that 
they  can  be  followers  of  Christ  on  so  easy  terms ; 
forgetting  all  the  while  that  he  is  testifying  against 
them  as  having  in  them  neither  the  love  of  God 
nor  man — for  that  they  love  not  their  brother 
whom  they  have  seen  (or  may  see  if  they  open 
their  eyes  and  look  abroad)  is  evident  from  their 
unconcern  about  his  miserable  situation,  and  their 
neglecting  to  help  him ;  and  this  involves  in  it  the 
proof  that  they  are  also  destitute  of  the  love  of  God. 
1  John  iii.  17.  iv.  20. 

What  was  it  that  made  the  profession  of  Chris- 
tianity so  self-denying — so  dangerous  in  primitive 
times  ? — The  merciless  hatred  of  the  Jews,  and  the 
angry  opposition  and  contempt  of  the  Gentiles. 
But  think  you  Christians  in  Great  Britain  at  the 
present  day  would  meet  with  no  persecution, 
although  enjoying  the  protection  of  the  law,  if 
they  were  equally  bold  and  zealous  with  the  first 
fruits  of  the  Gospel  in  India,  Samaria,  and  the 
surrounding  countries  ?  There  is  as  much  secret 
malice  in  the  breast  of  formal  professors  of  Chris- 
tianity against  its  true  disciples,  as  existed  among 
the  Pharisees  of  old  against  the  first  disciples  ; 
and  there  is  as  much  aversion  and  scorn  harbored 
in  the  breast  of  our  skeptics  and  contemners  of 
God  and  godliness,  as  ever  were  displayed  by  the 
pagan  enemies  of  the  Christians.  But  we  take 
care  not  to  provoke  them,  and  the  hatred  of  the 
one  and  the  contempt  of  the  other  are  buried  in 
silence,  because  our  polite  neutrality  and  careful 
avoidance  of  all  offensive  measures  obliges  them 
to  repay  the  compliment  by  refraining  to  assail  us. 
A  Christian   may   pass  very   quietly   through  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  231 

world,  and  live  unmolested  all  his  days  in  the 
midst  of  unbelievers,  if  he  only  takes  care  not  to 
trouble  them  with  his  opinions.  But  let  him 
attempt  to  deal  faithfully  with  all,  as  he  may  have 
ability  and  opportunity,  and  he  will  soon  find 
that  his  situation  and  the  trials  and  duties  of  it 
are  not  so  different  from  those  of  the  Christians  of 
the  first  ages  as  he  once  supposed. 

But  the  Christian's  sphere  of  usefulness  extends,  or 
should  extend,  beyond  his  own  immediate  neighbor- 
hood. If  he  enters  fully  into  the  missionary  spirit 
he  will  be  an  active  and  useful  friend  of  the  cause, 
however  humble  his  station  or  limited  his  means ; 
and  he  will  prove  that  his  concern  for  those  at  a 
distance  does  not  lead  him  to  neglect  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  those  nearer  his  own  door.  But  in  pro- 
portion as  he  rises  above  the  common  standard  of 
activity  and  consistency  in  these  things,  in  the  same 
proportion  he  will  be  spoken  against,  hated  and 
perhaps  persecuted,  both  by  friends  and  enemies. 
The  true  cross  of  Christ  is  too  heavy  to  be  worn  as 
a  charm  or  an  ornament  about  the  neck.  It  is 
so  heavy  that  nothing  less  than  the  strength  He 
imparts  could  enable  any  one  to  bear  it. 

It  is  now  considerably  upwards  of  a  century 
since  societies  were  formed  and  incorporated 
among  us  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel :  and 
the  just  praise  of  those  bodies  must  not  be  denied 
them.  But  in  how  small  a  degree  did  the  object 
of  those  societies  become  a  general  concern — and 
even  to  this  day,  how  inadequate  is  the  feeling 
and  interest  of  multitudes  in  this  work  !  Annual 
sermons  have  been  preached  these  hundred  years 
before  the  "  venerable"  and  "  honorable"  socie- 
ties now  alluded  to,  and  younger  Institutions  of 
the  same   kind — and  many   admirable   sentiments 


232  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS, 

have  been  expressed,  and  heard  no  doubt  with  due 
attention. — But  it  strikes  me  that  after  all,  our 
preachers  of  missionary  sermons  in  general  have 
not  taken  the  high  ground  their  theme  warranted 
and  demanded.  It  may  be  an  uncharitable 
thought,  but  it  has  really  occurred  to  me  again 
and  again,  that  the  preacher  has  seemed  to  be 
very  tender  in  pressing  upon  his  hearers  the  real 
extent  of  service  and  sacrifice  those  hearers  should 
render  to  the  cause  by  personal  devotement  or 
pecuniary  contribution,  lest  offended  and  stung  to 
the  heart  by  so  close  an  appeal,  they  should 
retaliate  upon  the  preacher  and  hint,  that  upon  his 
own  principles  he  should  leave  all  and  become  a 
missionary. 

If  this  has  not  been  the  feeling  of  the  parties, 
why  that  measured,  hesitating  manner  of  applying 
the  truth  or  argument  of  an  appropriate  text  and 
able  sermon  ?  After  an  eloquent  demonstration 
of  the  excellence,  obligation  to  labor,  and  bene- 
volence of  the  work — the  certainty  of  success,  &c. 
from  which  it  might  have  been  expected  that  the 
preacher  would  deduce  the  duty  of  all  who  admit- 
ted his  premises,  giving  "  their  hearts — their  lives 
— their  all" — to  the  service  of  the  Lord — he  falls 
utterly  short  of  the  mark ;  and  the  whole  evapo- 
rates in  an  exhortation  to  greater  liberality  in  con- 
tributing, and  greater  diligence  in  collecting  sub- 
scriptions by  pence  and  sixpences  and  shillings ; 
with  perhaps  an  intimation  of  his  hope  that  some 
one  of  the  assembly  may  make  up  for  the  lack  of 
service  of  all  the  rest  by  consecrating  himself  to 
the  work  of  an  evangelist. 

You  will  not  construe  what  I  have  just  said  as 
if  I  lightly  estimated  the  services  of  the  patient 
and   indispensable    coadjutors    of   the    missionary 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  233 

cause,  who  week  after  week  and  year  after  year 
replenish  the  treasures  of  our  missionary  institu- 
tions by  the  accumulated  offerings  of  thousands  of 
nameless  benefactors — the  mites  of  humble  piety, 
sanctified  by  the  willingness  with  which  they  are 
offered,  and  the  prayers  by  which  they  are  accom- 
panied. But  while  this  is  the  sphere  of  many,  it 
is  not  the  sphere  of  all,  and  he  who  can  do  more 
and  does  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin. 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTER    XVII. 

OBJECTIONS    TO    ENGAGING    IN    MISSIONARY 
SERVICE. 

My  dear  Friend, 

An  admired  author  of  a  former  age  says,  "  We 
set  up  our  own  opinions  in  religion  and  philosophy 
as  the  tests  of  orthodoxy  and  truth,  and  we  are 
prone  to  judge  every  practice  of  other  men  either 
a  duty  or  a  crime,  which  we  think  would  be  a  crime 
or  a  duty  in  us,  although  their  circumstances  are 
vastly  different  from  our  own."  There  are  innu- 
merable examples  of  the  truth  of  this  observation  : 
but  it  is  sometimes  made  use  of  as  affording  an 
easy  way  of  getting  rid  of  a  troublesome  argument. 
I  have  no  doubt  that  many,  were  these  letters  to 
meet  their  eye,  would  think  they  might  sweep 
away  half  of  the  practical  conclusions  of  them  by 
a  forced  application  of  it.  "  The  writer,"  they 
would  say,  "sees  every  object  through  the  medium 


234  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

of  a  prejudice  in  favor  of  missions.  He  would 
break  up  the  whole  frame  of  society  ;  he  would 
prove  that  half  the  ministers  and  private  Christians 
in  the  world  should  immediately  become  mission- 
aries ;  he  would  have  men  to  dissolve  all  the 
relations  of  civil  life — break  the  ties  and  trample 
on  the  feelings  of  duty,  love,  and  friendship  ;  and 
care  not  though  every  other  concern  were  neglected 
or  abandoned  if  only  his  favorite  work  were  car- 
ried on." — But  to  all  this,  and  much  more  in  the 
same  strain,  that  I  can  imagine  might  be  uttered 
by  a  disaffected  heart,  or  even  by  a  well  meaning, 
though  ill-informed  friend  of  Christianity,  as  suffi- 
cient to  put  down  all  I  have  said  without  being  at 
the  trouble  to  prove  any  one  of  my  statements  or 
inferences  to  be  erroneous — to  all  this  an  answer 
might  easily  be  found. 

I  shall  not  however  tire  you  with  a  lengthened 
reply  to  this  anticipated  objection ;  but  I  would 
just  say,  before  concluding  that  that  must  be 
wrong  which  would  disturb  the  present  constitution 
of  Christian  society,  and  compel  many  to  adopt 
another  standard  of  action  than  they  have  been 
accustomed  to  measure  themselves  by  ; — I  say, 
before  concluding  that  that  must  be  wrong  which 
draws  such  conclusions  after  it,  it  is  first  necessary 
to  prove  that  the  existing  state  of  things  in  the 
Christian  world  is  right — is  just  what  it  should  be. 

But  besides,  it  is  obvious  to  reason  that  the 
language  I  have  put  into  the  objector's  mouth  is 
overstrained  and  false  by  any  application  to  the 
doctrine  of  these  letters  ;  and  it  is  needless  to  say 
more  upon  it  at  present — only  be  it  remembered 
that  it  is  not  my  work  I  am  advocating.  It  is  not 
any  rule  of  my  devising  I  would  have  men  go  by. 
I   appeal  to  "the  law  and  to  the   testimony,"   in 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  235 

■which  there  is  no  obscurity  in  what  relates  to  the 
obligation  to  propagate  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  If  I 
speak  not  according  to  this  word,  let  whatever  I 
have  presumed  to  say  go  for  nothing — but  if  I 
have  spoken  the  truth,  let  them  see  to  it  who  yet 
find  fault. 

At  any  rate,  if  I  have  attempted  to  bring  home 
the  command  of  Christ  to  the  "  business  and 
bosoms"  of  some  men  to  whom  it  has  been  thought 
hitherto  but  indirectly  to  apply,  so  far  am  I 
from  apprehending  that  any  will  go  beyond  the 
line  of  sober  duty  in  consequence  of  these  sugges- 
tions, supposing  them  to  be  published — my  fear  is, 
that  many,  without  laying  the  matter  properly  to 
heart,  will  continue  to  go  on  in  their  accustomed 
road,  neither  proving  that  my  deductions  are  wrong, 
nor  practically  owning  that  they  are  right. 

In  matters  of  mere  speculation,  or  in  matters  of 
practice  that  fall  in  with  the  current  of  men's  cor- 
rupt inclinations,  pensees  outres  may  do  harm. 
But  when  the  question  is  practical,  and  the  conduct 
to  which  it  leads  is  directly  opposed  to  all  worldly 
and  selfish  ends,  there  is  little  danger  of  the 
strenuous  inculcation  of  duty  producing  bad  effects  ; 
— except  in  the  way  the  Saviour  himself  says  his 
own  coming  would  operate  :  "  I  came  not  to  send 
peace  but  a  sword,  for  I  am  come  to  set  a  man  at 
variance  against  his  father,  and  the  daughter  against 
her  mother,  and  the  daughter-in-law  against  her 
mother-in  law,  and  a  man's  foes  shall  be  they  of 
his  own  household."  And  may  it  not  be  consid- 
ered rather  a  presumptive  argument  that  my 
views  are  in  perfect  accordance  with  the  design 
and  tendency  of  the  pure  Gospel  of  Christ,  since  the 
effects  may  be  thus  similar.  I  can  easily  conceive 
of  the   outcry   of  relatives   and   friends,  religious 


236  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

and  irreligious,  against  the  enthusiast  who  should 
break  away  from  respectable  connections,  perhaps 
from  a  scene  of  apparent  usefulness — perhaps  at 
the  risk  of  the  loss  of  all  things,  that  he  might 
preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ;  and  still  more  if  he  should  by  word  as 
well  as  by  example  endeavor  to  persuade  many 
others  also,  who  are  wasting  life  to  little  purpose, 
so  far  as  doing  good  to  the  souls  of  men  is  concern- 
ed, that  they  should  listen  to  the  call  of  the 
heathen  to  come  and  help  them.  I  can  conceive  of 
many  arguments  derived  from  every  source  but 
the  right  one — the  word  of  God — employed  to  show 
this  enthusiast  that  it  is  his  duty  to  remain  at 
home  himself,  and  let  others  remain  at  home  too. 
Ought  not  a  young  man  to  be  suffered  to  stay  till 
he  has  buried  his  father?  and  if  in  the  mean  time 
he  marries  a  Avife,  does  not  this  excuse  him  wholly 
from  engaging  in  any  such  service  ?  It  may  be  so, 
or  it  may  not,  according  to  circumstances  ;  but  to 
all  such  individuals  as  may  be  opposed  in  the  way 
of  duty  by  friends  or  enemies,  I  would  merely 
suggest,  that  instead  of  being  careful  to  answer 
their  accusers  in  that  matter,  they  should  seriously 
ponder  the  words  which  follow  in  immediate  con- 
nection Avith  those  above  quoted  :  "  He  that  loveth 
father  or  mother  more  than  me  is  not  AArorthy  of  me, 
and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  me  is 
not  Avorthy  of  me  ;  and  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross 
and  followeth  after  me  is  not  worthy  of  me.  He 
that  findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it,  and  he  that  loseth 
his  life  for  my  sake  shall  find  it." 

While  Ave  urge  the  duty  of  many  able  and 
devoted  men  leaving  their  home  and  friends  and 
labors  in  the  midst  of  a  Christian  people,  in  order 
to  bear  the  name  of  Christ  to  the  uncalled  Gentiles, 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  237 

there  is  unhappily  one  argument  that  cannot  as  yet 
with  any  propriety  be  used  in  opposition  to  it — 
namely,  that  there  is  a  due  proportion  of  foreign 
laborers  already  gone  or  preparing  to  go.  Yet 
some  people  are  either  so  uncandid,  or  so  hostile, 
or  so  ignorant,  that  they  really  throw  out  hints  to 
this  effect,  and  they  think  their  argument  is  very 
plausible,  if  not  irrefragable,  when  they  suggest 
that  the  missionaries  already  sent  out,  if  they  act 
wisely,  and  "  teach  teachers,"  instead  of  wasting 
their  strength  in  teaching  scholars,  may  soon  raise 
up  so  many  coadjutors  from  among  the  heathen 
that  they  shall  have  no  need  of  any  further  rein- 
forcements from  home. 

The  attention  of  the  friends  of  missions  has 
happily  been  turned  to  the  importance  of  estab- 
lishing native  schools  in  connection  with  every 
missionary  station,  and  with  reason  they  are  looked 
upon  as  in  all  probability  the  nurseries  of  the 
church  in  those  parts  of  the  world.  The  training 
up  of  select  individuals  in  the  hope  of  their  becoming 
Christian  teachers  is  one  of  the  first  duties  of  a 
Christian  missionary.  But  the  Christian  public 
ought  to  beware  lest  this  system  of  missionary 
tactics  should  lead  them  into  a  practical  error  in 
calculating  the  number  of  men  and  apparatus 
necessary  to  carry  this  system  into  effect  with 
promptitude  and  spirit.  The  comparison  of  the 
missionary  harvest  to  an  extensive  field  covered 
with  waving  corn  from  the  reproduction  for  a 
succession  of  years  of  a  single  grain,  may  easily  be 
perverted  so  as  to  occasion  serious  mistakes  in 
regard  both  to  the  means  and  measure  of  the  in- 
crease of  the  kingdom  of  God.  The  word  of  God, 
pi^.d  not  the  missionary,  is  the  seed  of  the  kingdom. 
The  missionary,  as  the  servant  of  the  "  Son  of 
20 


233  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Man,"  sows  it,  and  by  the  blessing  of  God  is 
sometimes  employed  in  the  joyful  toil  of  reaping-. 
Be  it  known,  then,  that  the  field  is  the  world,  and 
that  to  sow,  labor,  and  reap  in  so  wide  a  scene  of 
exertion  is  not  the  work  of  a  few.  So  far  from 
the  greatest  conceivable  success  superseding  the 
necessity  of  the  labors  of  faithful  men,  that  very 
success,  as  I  have  elsewhere  shown,  would  give  a 
new  emphasis  to  the  call  to  send  out  many,  and 
those  of  the  ablest  description. 

We  should  gladly  employ  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  native  teachers  in  as  many  circles 
around  our  missionary  stations,  but  where  are 
they  !  They  must  first  themselves  be  converted, 
taught,  and  fitted  for  their  office — and  who  must  do 
this  ?  And  how  many  heads  and  hearts  would  find 
ample  employment  in  this  department  alone  ! 

It  was  when  our  Lord  had  his  eye  immediately 
upon  the  fields  of  Judea  that  he  said  to  his  dis- 
ciples, "  The  harvest  truly  is  great,  but  the 
laborers  are  few  ;  pray  ye,  therefore,  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  that  he  would  send  laborers  into 
his  harvest."  "  But  when  he  saw  the  multitudes 
he  was  moved  with  compassion  for  them,  because 
they  fainted  and  were  scattered  abroad,  as  sheep 
having  no  shepherd."  It  was  then  that  he  said  to 
his  disciples  "  the  harvest  truly  is  plenteous,"  &c. 
and  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  at  that  very  time,  as 
we  may  gather  from  the  history,  our  Lord  himself 
was  exemplifying  that  which  he  enjoined  upon  his 
disciples.  It  was  on  the  night  previous  to  his 
calling  the  twelve  apostles  (the  transaction  recorded 
immediately  after  the  words  above  quoted)  that  he 
ivent  out  into  a  mountain  to  pray,  and  continued  all 
night  in  prayer  to  God."  Compare  Luke  vi.  12, 
113,   and   Matt.   ix.  37,  38,  x.   1,  2.     Our  blessed 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  239 

Lord  repeated  the  same  solemn  words  upon  another 
remarkable  occasion :  "  After  these  things  the  Lord 
appointed  other  seventy  also,  and  sent  them  two 
and  two  before  his  face  into  every  city  and  place 
whither  he  himself  would  come.  Therefore  he 
said  unto  them,  The  harvest  truly  is  great,"  &c. 
If  seventy  laborers,  in  addition  to  the  twelve 
previously  appointed,  were  not  too  many  for  the 
towns  and  villages  where  Christ  exercised  his 
personal  ministry,  what  number  should  be  sent  out 
in  obedience  to  his  command  to  "  go  into  all  the 
world?' 

When  the  magnitude  of  the  work  is  pressed 
upon  our  notice,  and  we  are  told  of  the  six 
hundred  millions  of  heathen  to  whom  the 
Gospel  is  to  be  preached,  we  find  it  sufficiently 
difficult  to  grasp  the  idea  of  that  multitude.*  But 
this  numerical  statement  does  not  convey  the  full 
notion  of  the  amazing  subject. 

I  observe,  then,  that  we  are  not  to  conceive  of 
this  vast  multitude  as  collected  upon  the  stage  of 
the  world,  and  standing  still,  waiting  till  we  are 
able  or  disposed  to  make  known  to  them  the  way 
of  salvation.  They  are  not  standing  still ;  they  are 
moving  along  the  stage  ;  and  as  thousands  of  them 
enter  every  hour  on  one  side  of  it,  as  many  dis- 
appear on  the  other  side  ;  so  that  the  number  per- 
petually fluctuating  is  still  kept  up  :  but  twenty 
millions  of  them  pass  away  every  year — pass  away, 
and  are  beyond  our  reach  for  ever! 


*  Were  the  number  of  men  here  mentioned  collected  to- 
gether, and  placed  as  close  to  each  other  as  they  could  conve- 
nientry  stand  and  move,  they  would  form  a  mass  of  living  beings 
a  mile  in  breadth,  and  upwards  of  a  hundred  miles  in  length  ! 
Think  of  this  assemblage  of  heathen  on  the  march  to  eternity ! 


240  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

When  such  a  representation  as  this  is  made, 
there  are  some  who  remind  us  that  God  can  work 
"  by  many  or  by  few,"  and  that  he  may  be  pleased 
to  put  honor  upon  the  feeble  and  despised  labors 
of  a  comparatively  small  number,  to  effect  that 
which  all  Christendom  combined  could  not  accom- 
plish without  his  effectual  blessing.  I  have  replied 
to  this  in  another  place,  but  I  introduce  it  here  for 
the  purpose  of  remarking,  that  these  same  objectors 
to  the  employing  of  many  laborers  among  the 
heathen,  on  the  ground  that  God's  work  can  be 
carried  on  without  the  help  of  human  agency  as 
well  as  with  it,  are  the  very  persons  who,  at  another 
time,  question  the  duty  of  pious  ministers,  divinity 
students,  and  other  Christians  of  talent  and  approved 
character  leaving  their  native  country,  on  the 
ground  that  the  cause  of  religion  at  home  would 
suffer  from  the  want  of  their  services !  I  pray 
you  admire  this  consistency — a  few  scattered 
laborers  occupying  a  field  altogether  dispropor- 
tionate to  their  physical  and  moral  strength  must 
remain  without  farther  assistance,  that  there  may 
be  room  left  for  the  display  of  God's  sovereignty 
in  effecting  his  purposes  of  mercy  without  corres- 
ponding human  means  ;  but  at  home,  where  human 
means  are  abundant,  no  deduction  must  be  made 
from  them,  lest  God  could  not  dispense  with  their 
aid  !  To  solve  the  mystery  of  sentiments  so  con- 
tradictory being  held  by  the  same  individual,  we 
have  only  to  remark,  that  in  the  one  case  the 
welfare  of  others  only  is  at  stake  ;  in  the  other 
case  his  own.  The  selfishness  of  human  nature 
explains  many  a  moral  enigma  :  it  gives  edge  to 
arguments  or  blunts  them  ad  libitum  ;  and  "  makes 
the  Avorse  seem  the  better  reason." 

When  I  look  at  the  moral  mass  of  the  world,  my 


LETTERS  ON   MISSIONS.  241 

eye  is  attracted  by  the  light  that  shines  in  a  little 
spot  called  Great  Britain.  There  I  observe  the 
means  of  Christian  instruction  comparatively  abund- 
ant; I  see  its  ten  thousand  churches,  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  schools,  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
Christian  ministers  and  teachers,  and  thousands 
more  preparing  for  the  work  and  eager  for  employ- 
ment within  the  precincts  of  the  beloved  island.  I 
then  turn  my  eye  to  other  countries  of  Europe,  and 
see  some  of  them  approximating  to  Britain  in  pri- 
vilege and  not  far  behind  in  practice  ;  but  other 
regions  I  see  bedimmed  with  Roman  Catholic 
superstition.  I  next  take  a  wider  range  of  ob- 
servation, and  see  skirting  the  western  shores  of 
the  Atlantic  "a  goodly  land,"  which  already  vies 
with  the  foremost  of  the  civilized  states  of  the 
old  world  in  all  that  is  good  and  promising  ; 
and  she  too  is  blessed  with  a  numerous  body  of 
Christian  teachers,  and  her  schools  and  colleges  are 
yearly  sending  out  more  laborers  to  the  American 
vineyard.  But  T  cannot  be  detained  longer  by  the 
contemplation  of  these  brighter  scenes,  and  here 
and  there  a  spot  of  light  and  moral  fertility.  I  turn 
to  the  black  and  dreary  shades  of  all  the  chief 
portions  of  the  rest  of  the  globe,  and  see  that 
"  darkness  covers  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the 
people."  And  seeing  this  I  cannot  question  the 
propriety  of  inviting  others  to  consider  it;  but  if 
they  should  be  unwilling  to  do  so,  what  must  be 
done  ?  would  it  be  wrong  "  to  use  sharpness  ?"  I 
have  no  desire  for  such  an  office,  nor  must  any 
thing  I  have  said  be  construed  as  if  I  had  usurped 
it ;  I  leave  it  to  those  who  can  fill  it  with  a  better 
grace.  I  am,  &c. 

20* 


242  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 


LETTER  XVIII. 

REMARKS    ON   A    SENTIMENT    OF    DOCTOR 
BUCHANAN. 

My  dear  Friend, 

Missions  to  the  heathen  are  either  deserving 
of  more  general  and  decided  support  from  all 
classes  of  the  Christian  community,  both  in  the  way 
of  furnishing  men  and  money,  than  they  have  hi- 
therto obtained — or  they  are  not.  If  they  are  not 
deserving  of  greatly  enlarged  encouragement,  the 
subject,  as  treated  in  these  letters,  has  been  unduly 
magnified.  Enthusiasm  has  exaggerated  the  pro- 
portions of  that  part  of  the  spiritual  temple  not  yet 
built,  and  truth  refuses  to  sanction  the  misrepresen- 
tation. 

But  if  Christian  missions  are  deserving  of  so 
much  more  liberal  support  and  universal  coun- 
tenance, how  is  it  that  they  have  not  received 
it? 

Among  other  causes,  I  am  sorry  to  particularize 
one  which  has  been  pressed  upon  my  notice  by  the  < 
perusal  of  the  sermon  of  the  late  Dr.  Buchanan, 
preached  before  the  Church  (of  England)  Mission- 
ary Society,  in  1810.  When  I  allude  to  this 
author  also,  as  I  have  done  to  several  others  in  the 
course  of  this  correspondence,  for  the  purpose  of 
reprehending  sentiments  expressed  by  them,  per- 
haps you  may  think  I  have  become  a  very  captious 
reader  and  judge  of  what  other  men  write.  But 
I  shall  not  be  deterred  by  the  fear  of  any  such 
imputation,  from  plainly  showing  you  my  opinion  ; 
and   especially  when  I  see   cause   to   differ  from 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  243 

writers  who  are  highly  and  justly  respected,  and 
whose  names  carry  with  them  an  authority  sufficient 
to  give  weight  and  currency  to  every  sentiment 
they  choose  to  publish.  I  could  have  descanted 
with  more  ease,  and  with  far  greater  pleasure, 
upon  the  excellencies  to  be  found  in  the  authors  I 
have  referred  to ;  but  what  is  good,  speaks  for 
itself;  what  I  would  therefore  attempt  is,  to  pre- 
vent the  bad  which  I  conceive  to  be  mixed  with  it, 
from  passing  unsuspected  because  found  in  con- 
nection with  much  that  is  unexceptionable. 

What  I  refer  to  at  present,  as  one  cause  of  the 
small  measure  of  attention  and  respect  paid  to  the 
subject  of  missions,  especially  by  Christians  of  su- 
perior rank,  wealth,  and  learning,  is  the  idea  that 
it  is  an  undertaking  to  be  carried  on  chiefly  by 
persons  in  the  lower  walks  of  life  ;  and  that  men  of 
that  class  are  the  most  proper  to  be  employed  as 
missionaries.  Hence  there  is  a  character  of  mean- 
ness and  vulgarity  thrown  over  the  whole  affair ; 
and  a  man  of  superior  station,  or  of  a  high  charac- 
ter for  learning,  is  taught  to  feel  himself  degraded 
by  any  immediate  contact  with  missionary  so- 
cieties or  their  agents.  I  know  that  many  most 
distinguished  characters,  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
have  shown  themselves  to  be  above  this  prejudice, 
(for  a  most  absurd  prejudice  assuredly  it  is,)  but  I 
confess  myself  somewhat  surprised  to  find  Dr. 
Buchanan  abetting  this  false  sentiment,  or  at  least 
compromising  the  truth,  in  such  a  passage  as  the 
following — "If  you  look  around,  you  may  ob- 
serve that  few  of  the  rich  or  learned  of  any  society 
of  Christians,  however  small,  and  however  zealous 
to  diffuse  Christianity,  are  disposed  to  go  forth  as 
missionaries  ;  and  it  is  true,  that  if  the  rich  and 
learned  did  go,  they  could  not  assimilate  with  the 


244  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

poor  and  ignorant  among-  the  heathen,  so  easily  as 
their  brethren  of  inferior  station.  They  could  not 
so  easily  suit  with  their  poverty,  nor  tolerate  their 
ignorance." 

The  fact  here  stated,  that  "  few  of  the  rich  and 
learned  are  disposed  to  go  forth  as  missionaries," 
is  indisputable,  nor  am  I  disposed  to  question  that 
they  must  make  greater  sacrifices  were  they  to  go. 
But  if  I  mistake  not  the  meaning  of  this  quotation, 
taken  in  connection  with  the  passage  that  imme- 
diately follows  it,  the  "rich  and  learned"  have  to 
thank  Dr.  Buchanan  for  giving  them  in  the  first 
place,  a  dispensation  altogether  from  actual  en- 
gagement in  missionary  service  ;  and  in  the 
second  place,  such  of  them  as  are  so  disposed  may 
extend  the  dispensation  to  exertions  at  home  also, 
in.  such  a  cause,  pleading  that  they  do  not  find  it 
easier  "to  assimilate  with  the  poor  and  ignorant" 
mass  of  Christians  at  home,  than  with  the  same 
descriptions  of  heathens  abroad ;  and,  therefore, 
keep  aloof  from  their  associations,  meetings,  and, 
in  short,  from  all  social  connection  with  them,  for 
the  purpose  of  spreading  the  Gospel. 

Is  not  this  sentiment  exceedingly  calculated  to 
lower  the  tone  of  devotion  to  the  cause,  among  all 
the  best  and  most  learned  and  able  of  the  Christian 
part  of  the  population,  to  say  nothing  of  its  in- 
jurious influence  upon  men  already  disposed 
to  pour  contempt  upon  the  whole  subject,  as  the 
vain  projects  of  vain  and  low  minds.  No  one 
likes  to  be  classed  with  the  poor,  and  ignorant, 
and  vulgar ;  and  say  what  you  will  of  the  humble 
and  sober  estimate  Christianity  teaches  us  to  make 
of  our  circumstances  and  acquirements,  there  is 
nothing  either  in  the  letter  or  spirit  of  its  precepts 
on   this  subject,  that  inculcates   it  upon  an  indi- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  245 

vidual  who  chooses  a  sphere  of  usefulness  that 
requires  him  to  "  associate  with  the  poverty,  and 
tolerate  the  ignorance  of  the  heathen,"  to  submit 
because  he  has  made  such,  a  choice,  (and  that  to 
the  manifest  prejudice  of  the  cause,)  to  be  reck- 
oned a  man  of  "  inferior  station" — neither  respect- 
able for  his  learning  nor  for  the  rank  he  holds 
among  his  countrymen.  Let  but  the  notice  spread 
among  the  heathen,  that  the  teacher  sent  to  them 
is  a  man  of  no  account  in  the  place  he  came  from  ; 
and  you  throw  a  most  formidable  bar  in  the  way  of 
that  missionary's  success  ; — and  let  this  idea,  al- 
ready too  prevalent,  be  carefully  kept  alive  and 
disseminated  at  home  ;  and  I  will  answer  for  it, 
that  instead  of  the  flower  of  our  churches  present- 
ing themselves  to  this  glorious  service,  the  very 
dregs  of  the  churches  (forgive  the  harshness  of  the 
expression)  shall  think  themselves  too  good  to  be 
thrown  away  upon  the  heathen.  Neither  do  I  see 
any  thing  in  Christianity  that  teaches  the  rich  and 
learned  of  the  followers  of  Christ  to  consider  them- 
selves, on  the  ground  of  their  wealth  or  erudition, 
exempted  from  services,  which,  notwithstanding 
the  opinion  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  I  believe  they  could 
perform  in  very  many  cases,  with  more  ease, 
acceptance,  and  success,  than  their  brethren  in  an 
inferior  station  and  of  more  limited  education. 

Dr.  Buchanan  goes  on  to  say — "  If  you  cannot 
find  rich  men  of  your  own  body  to  go  forth  to 
enlighten  the  world,  you  must  send  men  of  humble 
condition ;  and  if  you  cannot  engage  learned  men, 
you  must  send  men  of  inferior  attainments."  But 
if  men  of  humble  condition  be  the  more  eligible 
class,  as  the  passage  before  quoted  seems  to  imply, 
why  seek  the  rich  and  the  learned  ?  Indeed,  from 
the   loose    and    undecided    manner   in    which    the 


24G  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Doctor  expresses  himself  on  this  point,  I  suspect 
he  either  did  not  advert  to  the  inference  to  be 
drawn  from  his  previous  statement,  or  meant  some- 
thing else  than  his  words  strictly  taken  express. 

The  question  may  be  brought  to  a  short  issue, 
thus — "  Rich  and  learned  men"  should  be  sought 
"  to  go  forth  to  enlighten  the  world,"  or  they  should 
not  be  sought.  If  they  should  not,  why  say,  "If 
then  you  cannot  find  rich  men  to  go,"  &c.  do  so  and 
so.  This  surely  implies  a  search  for  that  which  is 
deemed  desirable  ;  and  upon  finding  it  unsuccessful, 
the  Doctor  advises,  as  the  best  alternative,  to  send 
men  of  humble  condition  and  inferior  attainments. 
That  is,  if  you  cannot,  in  the  first  place,  find  what 
is  best  suited  to  your  purpose,  you  must  be  content 
with  what  you  can  find.  This  seems  to  be  the 
obvious  interpretation  of  the  passage,-  and  yet 
Dr.  Buchanan  had  said  immediately  before,  that 
the  rich  and  learned  could  not  so  "  easily"  do  what 
would  be  required  of  them,  as  inferior  men  could. 
Hence,  I  presume,  he  considered  the  latter  to  be 
preferable. 

But  if,  on  the  other  alternative,  rich  and  learned 
men  should  be  sought,  what  is  the  best  method  of 
conducting  the  search  ? — Is  it  not  to  press  the  duty 
of  such  men  to  engage  in  the  work — to  show  the 
call  made  upon  them,  to  explain  how  much  the 
cause  needs  the  services  of  the  very  best  and 
ablest  men  that  can  be  procured — that  if  they 
decline,  the  cause  must  suffer,  both  in  the  public 
estimation,  and  in  regard  to  the  real  efficiency  of 
its  operations,  because,  in  that  event,  only  weak 
and  unsuitable  instruments  may  be  employed, 
"men  of  humble  condition,"  and  "inferior  attain- 
ments ;"  but  the  best  that  could  be  procured,  since 
able  men  would  not  come  forward  ? 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  247 

But  has  this  method  been  adopted?  If  it  was 
Dr.  Buchanan's  opinion  that  rich  and  learned  men, 
"zealous  to  diffuse  Christianity,"  should  go  forth 
to  enlighten  the  world,  why  did  he  not  use  his 
eloquent  tongue  and  pen  to  urge  upon  them  the 
performance  of  the  Christian  duty.  No  one  who 
reads  the  "  Christian  Researches  in  India'"  can 
doubt  the  author's  courage,  and  yet  I  am  tempted  to 
ask,  was  he  afraid  of  the  disapprobation  of  some 
of  the  reverend  and  learned  personages  before 
whom  his  sermon  was  preached,  lest  he  should 
seem  to  censure  their  supineness  ? — Why  does  he 
turn  it  off  with  a  flourish  of  his  pen,  "if  you  cannot 
find  rich  and  learned  men  of  your  own  body  to  go 
forth,  send  men  of  'humble  condition,'  and  'in- 
ferior attainments  ?' " 

But  I  must  add  one  question  more. — If  the 
Doctor  thought  these  inferior  men  good  enough, 
what  becomes  of  his  statement,  and  of  the  argument 
founded  upon  it  in  a  preceding  part  of  the  same 
discourse  ? — "  I  have  sometimes  been  ashamed  to 
see  the  Christian  missionary  put  to  silence  by  the 
intelligent  Brahmin,  on  some  point  relating  to  the 
history  of  the  Eastern  nations,  or  to  the  present 
state  of  mankind.  I  have  felt  anxious  for  the 
credit  of  Christianity  on  such  occasions." 

It  really  seems  invidious  to  be  finding  fault  with 
so  many  things,  but  I  think  Dr.  Buchanan's  wish  to 
spare  the  "  rich  and  learned,"  because  they  might 
not  find  missionary  service  so  "  easy  ;"  and  his  wil- 
lingness to  accept  of  inferior  instruments  in  their 
room,  on  the  one  hand,  and  his  conviction  of  the 
usefulness  of  learning  on  the  other,  have  led  him 
into  several  odd  contradictions.  For  instance,  he  . 
says  in  one  place,  "  Every  branch  of  knowledge 
which  a  good  man  possesses,  he  may  apply  to  some 


248  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 


purpose.  If  lie  possessed  the  knowledge  of  an 
archangel,  he  might  employ  it  all  to  the  advantage  of 
man  and  the  glory  of  God."  This  is  nobly  said  ;  and 
I  wish  this  sentiment,  unfettered  and  unqualified, 
were  received  as  an  undoubted  maxim,  and  followed 
up  to  its  legitimate  consequences  in  the  great  concern 
of  maintaining-  and  promoting*  Christianity  where  it 
has  got  some  footing*  among  the  heathen,  and  extend- 
ing it  to  places  where  it  is  yet  wholly  unknown. 
It  might  have  been  expected,  surely,  that  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan's induction  from  this,  taken  along  with  the 
instances  he  referred  to  of  ignorant  missionaries 
being  put  to  shame  before  intelligent  heathens, 
would  have  been  that  missionaries  could  not  pos- 
sess too  much  learning — too  much  knowledge  of 
every  kind.  But  his  inference  dwindles  into  this — 
"  Some  portion  of  learning  is  therefore  indispen- 
sable to  insure  even  a  tolerable  degree  of  success 
in  preaching  to  the  heathen  world."  But  then  he 
goes  on  to  except  mathematical  and  classical  learn- 
ing. He  allows  "  a  knowledge  of  the  original 
languages  of  Scripture  to  be  indispensable  to  mis- 
sionaries who  are  to  be  translators;"  "but  for 
missionaries  in  general,  who  preach  to  uncivilized 
nations,  classical  erudition  is  not  necessary!" 
Only  compare  this  with,  "  if  a  good  man  possessed 
the  knoAvledge  of  an  archangel,  he  might  employ 
it  all  to  the  advantage  of  man  and  the  glory  of 
God!" 

But  why  is  mathematical  and  philosophical  learn- 
ing less  necessary  than  the  knowledge  of  history, 
and  of  the  present  state  of  mankind  ?  Dr.  Bucha- 
nan happened  to  see  a  missionary  put  to  silence 
by  a  heathen  on  a  question  of  this  latter  kind ; 
but  if  he  had  seen  him  put  to  silence  on  a  question 
concerning  some  of  the  phenomena  of  nature  which 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  049 

can  only  be  explained  on  scientific  principles, 
Mould  there  not  have  been  equal  occasion  to  "  feel 
anxious  for  the  credit  of  Christianity  ?" 

It  is  curious  to  observe  how  different  men, 
attaching  peculiar  importance  to  some  one  branch 
of  knowledge,  think  all  others  may  be  dispensed 
with,  if  their  favorite  science  is  not  neglected. 
Dr.  Buchanan's  missionary  might  be  qualified  to 
deliver  lectures  on  history  or  geography  ;  but  Mr. 
Douglas  says,  "  Even  in  the  colleges  of  India, 
where  learning  is  most  required,  only  two  branches 
of  instruction  are  especially  required — a  knowledge 
of  the  English,  and  of  Chemistry,  in  its  simplest 
form,  as  applicable  to  daily  phenomena,  and  daily 
uses."* 

Is  it  not  better  to  hold  that  missionaries  may, 
profitably  for  themselves  and  for  others  also,  pos- 
sess knowledge  as  much  as  they  may,  and  not  have 
too  much.  A  man's  stock  of  knowledge  is  easily 
carried  about  with  him.  It  is  neither  burdensome 
nor  dangerous,  and  is  sometimes  far  cheaper  than 
ignorance. 

But  to  divest  the  question  of  all  ambiguity,  I 
think  it  should  be  stated  in  this  way  : — 

(1.)  It  is  allowed  on  all  hands  that  mission- 
aries, although  possessed  but  of  limited  know- 
ledge, may  be  useful  and  honored  laborers ;  but 
if  their  range  of  knowledge  were  widened,  and 
their  uncultivated  talents  better  improved,  would 
they  not  in  all  probability  be  more  successful,  as 
being  more  fitted  for  their  work  ?  We  know  that 
the  blessing  of  God  is  equally  necessary  to  render 
efficacious  the  labors  of  the  learned  and  ignorant, 
the  wise  and  the  unwise   of  his  servants  ;  but  we 

*  Hints  on  Missions,  p.  83. 
21 


25Q  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

are  here  speaking  of  them  simply,  as  comparatively 
better  and  worse  adapted  to  their  work,  from  the 
possession  or  want  of  ordinary  qualifications. 

But  if  a  missionary  is  not  better  fitted  as  an 
instrument  from  his  ceasing  to  be  illiterate,  and  be- 
coming a  man  of  various  learning-  and  general 
knowledge  ;*  then  this  cultivation  of  his  talents, 
and  storing  of  his  mind,  must  be  of  no  use,  if  not 
positively  injurious.  And  neither  of  these  doc- 
trines do  I  consider  tenable. 

You  must  here  distinguish  between  two  things — 
the  indispensableness  of  learning  to  a  mis- 
sionary, and  the  advantage  of  learning  to  a 
missionary.  For  the  former  I  do  not  contend : 
for  the  latter  I  do.  That  is  to  say,  extensive 
erudition  is  not  indispensable  to  the  success  of  mis- 
sionaries, because  many  highly  honored  servants 
of  God,  destitute  of  all  such  pretensions,  have 
been,  and  are,  abundantly  useful  and  acceptable. 
Such  men  have  been,  and  will  be,  sent  out;  and, 
especially  in  connection  with  others  of  higher  in- 
tellectual power  and  more  extensive  acquirements, 
loith  great  advantage  to  the  cause. 

But  I  think  that  knowledge  of  every  kind,  as 
much  as  may  be  procured,  is  always  advantageous — 
and  never  injurious.  Hence  I  infer  that  the 
friends  of  missions  should  give  to  every  man  they 
send  out,  the  means  of  acquiring  as  much  learning 
and  knowledge  as  circumstances  will  admit.  And 
my  quarrel  is  with  those  who,  inconsistently  as  I 

*  A  remark  of  that  keen  observer,  Richard  Cecil,  deserves 
to  be  remembered.  "  Ignorance  in  ministers  is  an  occasion  of 
exciting  enmity  against  Christianity.  A  man  may  betray  igno- 
rance on  almost  every  subject,  except  the  way  of  salvation. 
Rut  if  others  see  him  to  be  a  fool  off  his  own  ground,  they  will 
think  him  a  fool  on  that  ground. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  251 

conceive,  admit  the  advantages  of  learning,  yet 
do  not  use  the  means  to  make  missionaries  learned ; 
and  shift  off  the  duty  of  procuring  learned  men  by 
pretending  that  they  cannot  be  obtained,  and 
then  comfort  themselves  that  "inferior  men 
may  do  as  well,  if  not  better  !"  This,  I  repeat,  is 
lowering  the  claims  and  character  of  the  missionary 
cause,  and  injuring  its  interests  not  merely  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world,  but  by  rendering  its  operations 
less  effective  and  successful  than  otherwise,  there 
is  reason  to  conclude,  they  would  have  been. 

(2.)  If  it  be  admitted  that  learned  and  able 
missionaries,  other  things  being  equal,  are  to  be 
preferred  to  men  of  inferior  attainments,  ought  not 
all  proper  means  to  be  used  to  procure  men  of  the 
former  description  ?  Is  it  not  wrong  to  rest  con- 
tented with  inferior  instruments,  and  palliate  or 
excuse,  or  even  justify  the  men  of  superior  station 
and  learning,  who  might  prove  more  effective  in- 
struments, merely  because  they  do  not  choose  to 
go,  or  do  not  find  it  so  "  easy"  to  make  the  re- 
quisite sacrifices  ?  And  is  it  not  wrong  in  a 
professed  friend  of  the  cause,  (and  the  more  emi- 
nent that  friend,  so  much  the  greater  his  crime,) 
to  sanction  and  teach  the  "rich  and  learned"  to 
scorn  the  missionary  work  as  beneath  them  to  take 
any  actual  share  in  it,  leaving  it  to  men  of  learning 
so  limited,  and  station  so  mean,  that  they  may 
charitably  be  supposed  to  be  good  for  nothing 
else  ? 

I  know  not  whether  most  of  the  arguments 
against  the  employment  of  highly  qualified  persons 
may  not  be  traced  to  an  underrating  of  the  office 
of  the  ministry.  It  was  truly  observed  by 
one*  concerning  the  apostle  Paul,  that  "his  life 

*  R.  Cecil. 


252  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

and  death  were  one  magnifying  uf  his  office.  His 
object  was  to  win  souls  ; — to  execute  the  will  of 
God."  And  it  Avas  profoundly  added,  "As  the 
man  rises  in  his  own  esteem,  his  office  sinks ;  but  as 
the  office  rises  in  his  view,  the  man  falls."  So 
when  men  are  regarded  as  very  rich  or  very 
learned,  they  are  thought  too  high  for  the  office  of 
a  missionary.  The  office  sinks  before  their  wealth 
and  wisdom.  But  the  right  view  of  the  office 
shows  that,  while  men  are  evidently  unfit — too  low 
for  it,  none  are  too  great,  too  high  for  it.  "  Who 
is  sufficient  for  these  things?"  is  the  exclamation  of 
one  impressed  as  he  ought  by  a  sense  of  the  weight 
and  difficulty  of  the  office. 

I  thought  that  Christianity  taught  its  disciples 
to  condescend  to  men  of  low  estate  ;  that  it  taught 
the  rich  to  rejoice  in  that  he  is  made  low,  while  it 
taught  the  brother  of  low  degree  to  rejoice  in  being 
exalted ;  but  if  Ave  are  to  adopt  the  principle  of 
excusing  the  rich  man,  because  he  cannot  "  as- 
similate Avith  the  poor,"  and  "  associate  Avith  their 
poverty,  and  tolerate  their  ignorance,"  politely 
assigning  him  a  good  place  at  home,  Avhere  he 
Avill  not  be  shocked  with  the  contact  of  poverty 
and  ignorance,  are  Ave  not  "  having  respect  to  him 
that  Aveareth  the  gay  clothing,  saying  unto  him, 
Sit  thou  here  in  a  good  place :  and  saying  to  the 
poor,  Stand  thou  there,  or  sit  here  under  my  foot- 
stool ?"  See  the  whole  of  the  second  chapter  of  the 
epistle  of  James,  and  try  if  you  can  reconcile  it 
with  the  doctrine  here  animadverted  upon.  I 
suspect  you  will  find  it  to  be  more  difficult  than 
some  have  found  it  to  reconcile  James  with  his 
brother  apostle  Paul. 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  253 


LETTER   XIX. 

ON      THE      MEANS      TO      BE      USED      IN     RAISING     UP 
MISSIONARIES. 

My  dear  Friend, 

It  must  have  struck  you  in  perusing  certain 
books,  which  profess  to  give  a  general  view  of  the 
doctrines  and  duties  of  revelation,  how  little  the 
missionary  character  of  Christianity  has  been 
brought  forward.  Indeed,  so  obscure  a  place  does 
this  subject  hold  in  some  systems  of  divinity,  whole 
duties  of  man,  &c.  books,  otherwise  sound,  judi- 
cious, and  comprehensive,  that  a  reader  might 
peruse  the  whole,  and  scarcely  be  able  to  tell  if  the 
duty  to  propagate  the  Gospel  was  not  wholly  left 
out  of  the  system.  The  duty  of  praying  for  the 
coming  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  is  of  course  intro- 
duced in  the  exposition  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  and 
the  duty  of  love  to  God  and  man  naturally  env 
braces  every  object,  which  is  a  proper  expression 
of  love  ;  and  among  the  rest,  the  promotion  of  the 
divine  glory,  and  the  welfare  of  our  fellow-crea- 
tures, by  disseminating  the  truth  of  God.  But 
this  is  treated  as  a  subordinate  topic,  while  doubt- 
ful questions  and  strifes  of  words  occupy  many 
pages,  and  call  forth  all  the  zeal  of  the  authors. 

But  if  some  writers  have  made  too  little  of  this 
point,  perhaps  you  may  think  that  I  have  made  too 
much — that  I  have  spoken  in  too  unqualified  terms 
on  several  topics  connected  with  the  spread  of 
Christianity — such  as  the  obligations  resting  upon 
properly  qualified  Christians  (nil  obstante)  to  be- 
come missionaries  to  the  heathen — the  quantity  of 
31* 


254  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

exertion  and  sacrifice  to  be  made  by  Christians,  in 
order  to  fulfil  the  command  of  Christ,  &c.  But  I 
think  the  advocate  of  such  a  cause  need  not  feel 
much  uneasiress,  although  he  may  have  neglected 
to  qualify  in  every  particular  his  representations. 
They  whom  it  concerns  will  supply  his  deficiency, 
and  practically  make  sufficient  abatement  of 
the  demands.  There  is  no  danger  of  too  many 
well  qualified  candidates  offering  themselves,  in 
consequence  of  any  such  calls  upon  them.  There 
is  unhappily  no  cause  of  alarm  at  present,  lest  the 
Christian  world  should  err  in  the  way  of  excess  in 
contributing  to  the  missionary  cause. 

On  the  contrary,  if  experience  and  observation 
may  be  at  all  regarded,  there  is  ground  to  con- 
clude that  such  statements  of  the  case  as  have  been 
made  in  these  letters,  supposing  them  to  be  sounded 
in  the  ears  of  the  very  men  to  whom  the  strictures 
apply,  would,  in  a  great  majority  of  instances,  leave 
them  in  a  very  complacent  frame  of  mind,  as  to 
what  they  had  been  doing  in  this  cause,  and  what 
they  should  in  future  do. 

Still,  however,  some  might  hear,  and  consider, 
and  repent,  and  in  the  spirit  of  Zaccheus  give 
fourfold  for  what  they  had  kept  back  from  the  cause 
of  God,  and  henceforth  be  its  devoted  and  consistent 
friends  and  supporters. 

It  is  not  by  one  stroke  of  the  battering  ram  the 
walls  of  a  besieged  fortress  are  made  to  fall;  but 
a  repetition  of  strokes  may  at  length  make  a  breach. 
These  letters  are  but  a  few  strokes  at  various 
points  of  the  wall  of  the  castle  of  Indolence  ;  and 
if  perseveringly  followed  up  by  heavier  and  more 
skilful  blows  from  engines  of  greater  power,  the 
effect  will  doubtless  at  last  be  produced. 

In  this   view,   every   missionary   sermon,   every 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  255 

missionary  meeting,  every  missionary  publication, 
does  something  towards  its  accomplishment.  And 
O  it  will  be  a  glorious  state  of  the  church,  when 
every  Christian,  in  every  church,  prompted  by  the 
mercies  which  he  has  received  of  the  Lord,  and 
knowing  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  which  hang  over 
a  sinful  world,  shall  be  earnestly  asking,  "Lord, 
what  wouldst  thou  have  me  to  do  ?"  and  ready 
to  do  ichatever  the  answer  communicated  by  "  the 
wisdom"  that  is  "  profitable  to  direct,"  shall  point 
out. 

If  so,  let  means  be  used  generally  and  syste- 
matically, to  rouse  the  attention  of  Christians  to 
this  subject  more  than  has  ever  yet  been  done. 

Let  me  suggest — 

1.  That  all  ministers  and  pastors  of  churches 
bring  the  subject  fully  and  frequently  before  their 
people.  Let  them  show  the  missionary  character 
of  the  New  Testament  dispensation.-  Let  them 
urge  the  duty  of  every  one  who  has  received  the 
truth,  to  communicate  it  in  some  way  or  other. 
It  is  the  duty  of  all  to  give  their  prayers  and  in- 
fluence— it  is  the  duty  of  some  to  give  their  money 
and  time — it  is  the  duty  of  some  to  give  themselves 
to  the  cause  by  actual  service. 

Has  any  Christian  minister  hitherto  neglected  so 
to  urge  the  claims  of  the  heathen  upon  the  con- 

*  The  Jews  were  not  commanded  to  go  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  law  of  Moses,  to  proselyte  every  people  to  the 
observance  of  the  riles  of  Judaism.  But  if  they  had  received 
such  a  command,  and  neglected  to  fulfil  it,  how  should  we  have 
descanted  upon  this  as  ow  more  to  be  added  to  the  black  cata- 
logue of  the  sins  of  that  people?  But  the  Jew  might  have  re- 
torted upon  the  Christian,  and  say,  "  Who  art  thou  that  judg- 
est?  for  wherein  thou  judgest  another,  thou  condemnesi  thy- 
self j  for  thou  that  judgest  doest  the  same  things." 


256  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

sciences  of  those  over  whom  he  is  an  overseer  ? 
Let  him  candidly  own  his  error,  and  immediately 
begin  practically  to  amend  it.  It  is  matter  of  com- 
mon remark,  that  a  congregation  acquires  in  a  great 
degree  the  views  and  disposition  of  the  minister. 
If  he  is  of  an  inactive,  contracted  spirit,  caring 
little,  at  least  in  the  way  of  exertion,  for  what  is 
beyond  his  immediate  sphere,  this  will,  generally 
speaking,  be  the  character  of  his  people  also.  If 
a  minister  seldom  or  never  leads  the  attention  of 
his  hearers  to  the  wants  of  others,  it  is  no  wonder 
if  they  as  seldom  think  of  them,  and  do  nothing  to 
help  them.  But  can  this  be  considered  a  right 
Christian  spirit  ? 

Let  us  suppose  in  the  first  and  best  age  of 
Christianity,  a  church  planted  by  the  apostles,  en- 
joying the  stated  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  and  walk- 
ing in  the  ordinances  and  commandments  of  the 
Lord.  They  have  been  called  out  of  darkness  into 
marvellous  light ;  but  many  around  them  are  in 
that  darkness  still.  These  Christians,  however, 
enjoy  their  ordinances,  from  week  to  week,  from 
year  to  year ;  but  none  of  them  go  forth  to  tell 
their  heathen  neighbors  what  a  Saviour  they  have 
found — to  what  hopes  they  are  begotten  again — 
from  what  a  death  they  have  been  delivered — and 
to  represent  the  need  of  these  blessings  to  every 
sinner.  Does  it  not  strike  you  as  something  very 
incongruous,  to  suppose  that  a  primitive  church 
should  be  so  indifferent  about  the  spread  of  the 
Gospel  ?  Indeed  they  could  not  have  been  de- 
scribed in  the  terms  I  have  quoted — "  walking  in  all 
the  ordinances  and  commandments  of  the  Lord 
blameless,"  if  such  was  their  character;  for  in 
that  case  they  were  neglecting  at  least  one  com- 
mandment. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  057 

2.  That  all  Christians,  whether  ministers  or 
others,  who  have  proper  views  and  feelings  on  this 
subject,  form  the  distinct  purpose  of  doing  every 
thing  in  their  power,  according  to  their  several 
abilities,  to  fan  the  missionary  flame  around  them. 
Christians  of  learning  and  ability  should  take  every 
proper  occasion  to  bring  the  question  before  their 
friends  and  fellow  Christians. 

In  furtherance  of  this  idea,  some  might  turn  their 
minds  to  a  comprehensive  and  thorough  investiga- 
tion of  the  nature,  obligation,  motives,  means,  and 
certain  results  of  the  evangelization  of  the  world. 
Here  is  a  list  of  a  few  grand  desiderata  on  this 
most  interesting  subject. 

(1.)  A  missionary  survey  of  the  world. 

(2.)  A  missionary  estimate  of  the  resources, 
moral,  literary,  and  physical,  of  the  Christian 
world,  for  attempting  the  conversion  of  all  nations. 

N.  B.  This  estimate  should  be  formed  not  on 
the  idea  of  such  a  gradual  increase  and  multipli- 
cation of  means  as  may  possibly,  in  the  course  of 
four  or  five  centuries,  amount  to  something  adequate 
to  the  extent  of  the  work ;  but  on  the  supposition 
that  it  is  our  work — our  duty  to  attempt  the  whole. 
I  do  not  entertain  the  enthusiastic  idea,  that  all  the 
heathen  will  at  once  become  docile,  reasonable, 
ingenuous,  believing,  as  soon  as  they  behold  a  host 
of  missionaries  come  to  convert  them ;  or  that  the 
effect  of  one  unprecedented  effort  shall  operate 
with  the  effect  of  magic  on  the  world.  But  on  the 
other  hand,  I  think  exertion  to  such  an  extent 
would  warrant  high  hopes  that  God  was  about  to 
pour  out  an  extraordinary  blessing,  since  he  had 
caused  his  own  people  to  make  a  devoted  and  si- 
multaneous movement  in  obedience  to  his  command, 


258  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

to  make  known  his  salvation  to  every  tribe,  and 
kindred,  and  people,  and  nation. 

(3.)  An  inquiry  into  the  most  proper  and  effec- 
tual means  of  providing  a  supply  of  suitable  men 
for  the  missionary  office,  and  preparing  them  for 
its  duties.  And  in  connection  with  this,  the  best 
means  of  assisting  native  converts  of  promising 
abilities  in  every  part  of  the  world,  to  give  them- 
selves to  the  work  of  instructing  their  countrymen. 
There  is  reason  to  conclude,  that  in  many  cases, 
from  not  following  up  partial  success  at  missionary 
stations,  by  employing  hopeful  converts,  the  work 
has,  humanly  speaking,  been  much  retarded. 

(4.)  A  series  of  popular  tracts  on  missionary 
subjects,  embracing  descriptions  of  the  state  of 
heathen  nations,  the  character  of  their  superstitions, 
the  effect  of  attempts  to  convert  them,  the  causes 
of  the  failure  of  such  attempts,  where  they  have 
been  unsuccessful — the  extent  of  the  field  of  mis- 
sions— want  of  laborers  to  cultivate  it,  &.c. 

This  object  is  in  part  met  by  the  monthly  papers 
of  some  of  the  societies  ;  but  they  are  chiefly  con- 
fined to  those  who  are  already  subscribing  to  the 
cause — such  tracts  should  be  universally  circu- 
lated. 

(5.)  A  periodical  publication,  in  which  might  be 
inserted  all  such  information  of  a  literary,  scientific, 
and  general  nature,  as  may  be  transmitted  by 
missionaries  from  their  several  stations,  and  which 
it  does  not  consist  with  the  plan  of  any  of  the 
existing  Missionary  Chronicles,  Reports,  &c.  to 
insert. 

I  have  long  thought  something  of  this  kind  very 
desirable.  It  has  been  said,  and  truly,  that  it 
would  tend  much  to  interest  the  friends  of  litera- 
ture in  general   in   the   labors   of  missionaries,   if 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  059 

their  communications  embraced  matters  of  general 
interest  respecting  the  countries  in  which  they 
sojourn,  as  well  as  intelligence  more  specifically 
of  a  missionary  character. 

Missionaries  have  been  loudly  complained  against, 
that  they  have  paid  so  little  attention  to  this  sub- 
ject ;  but  the  best  apology  for  them  is,  that  there 
has  been  no  proper  channel  through  which  these 
communications  could  be  brought  before  the  eye 
of  the  public.  The  missionary  periodical  papers 
find  their  limits  small  enough  for  containing  infor- 
mation strictly  relating  to  their  missionary  work, 
and  as  this  deservedly  holds  the  first  place,  articles 
of  a  more  general  nature  cannot  be  admitted.  And 
missionaries  knowing  this,  think  it  needless  to  fur- 
nish them.  But  I  am  persuaded,  that  were  some 
publication  devoted  to  this  branch  of  missionary 
intelligence,  it  might  both  be  rendered  subservient 
to  the  interests  of  the  cause,  by  securing  more 
universal  attention  and  respect,  while  it  contributed 
important  additions  to  the  stock  of  human  know- 
ledge ;  and  might  also,  under  judicious  and  spirited 
management,  be  made  a  source  of  considerable 
annual  revenue  to  the  missionary  societies. 

The  details  of  the  plan  it  does  not  belong  to  me 
to  enter  into  ;  but  if  the  hint  be  attended  to,  it 
may  become  a  means  of  no  small  efficacy  in  pro- 
moting this  best  of  causes. 

It  would  not  be  difficult  to  increase  the  list  of 
desiderata ;  but  if  these  few  be  supplied,  they  will 
operate  in  their  own  way,  and  may  lead  to  the 
suggestion  of  other  things  conducive  to  the  same 
glorious  end.  I  am,  &c. 

P.  S.  Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  ob- 
served that  in  the  Evangelical  Magazine  for  1810 


260  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

and  1811,  is  inserted  a  series  of  papers  on  the  state 
of  evangelical  religion  throughout  the  world,  which 
in  some  degree  meets  my  idea  of  a  missionary- 
survey  of  the  world,  as  stated  in  the  foregoing  list 
of  desiderata.  Perhaps  there  may  be  other  pub- 
lications extant,  of  which  I  am  not  aware,  in  which 
these  subjects  are  treated  of.  If  so,  means  should 
be  taken  to  give  them  the  widest  circulation. 
Many  excellent  papers,  which  have  appeared  in 
Magazines  and  Reviews,  or  extracts  from  them, 
might  with  great  advantage  be  reprinted. 


LETTER    XX. 

ON     THE     SPIRIT     OF     THE     MISSIONARY 
ENTERFRIZE. 

My  dear  Friend, 

Having  given  you  my  thoughts  upon  a  variety 
of  subjects  connected  with  the  missionary  work,  it 
may  not  be  improper  to  say  something  on  the 
spirit  in  which  the  whole  ought  to  be  conducted. 
It  ought  not  to  be  a  self-sufficient,  worldly-wise, 
or  enthusiastically  daring  spirit — but  a  spirit  of 
humble,  yet  resolute  faith — meek  devotion— en- 
lightened zeal,  animated  and  directed  by  love  to 
God  and  man. 

This  may  seem  so  obvious  as  not  to  require  dis- 
tinct notice  ;  but  it  may  not  be  wholly  unnecessary 
to  state  it.  To  pass  it  in  silence,  when  so  many 
other  topics  may  have  been  insisted  on,  might  be 
construed  into  inattention  to  a  point  of  the  most 
essential  importance. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  261 

The  whole  undertaking-  is  unspeakably  solemn. 
It  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  It  involves  the 
salvation  or  destruction  of  all  who  are  engaged  in 
it,  whether  as  preachers  or  hearers — dispensers  or 
receivers  of  the  word  of  God.  They  that  preach 
must  deliver  their  own  souls ;  and  the  sincere 
faithful  laborer  will :  but  the  careless  unsanctified 
instrument,  after  having  preached  the  Gospel  to 
others,  shall  himself  be  cast  away.  The  hearer 
of  the  word,  who  mixes  faith  with  the  hearing, 
who  believes  with  the  heart  unto  righteousness, 
and  makes  confession  with  the  mouth,  shall  obtain 
salvation.  As  to  him,  the  preacher  is  the  savor  of 
life  unto  life  ;  whereas,  the  wicked  who  turns  not 
from  his  evil  way  shall  perish,  bat  his  blood  shall  be 
upon  his  own  head. 

But  this  responsibility,  and  the  consequent  guilt 
of  unfaithfulness  in  doing  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
ought  to  be  viewed  as  attaching  not  merely  to  the 
immediate  laborers  in  the  field,  but  also,  in  a  de-- 
gree,  to  all  at  home,  who  are  required  to  set  their 
hands  to  the  cause,  and  may  be  assisting  in  it  even 
in  the  humblest  degree.  The  sin  of  doing  the 
work  of  the  Lord  deceitfully  is  not  peculiar  to  the 
laborers  in  one  department  only.  Lukewarmness 
may  be  the  sin  of  the  weekly  or  annual  contributor, 
as  well  as  of  the  missionary.  I  do  not  say  that 
the  guilt  is  equal;  but  the  least  degree  of  it  will 
be  found  heavy  enough  one  day.  It  were  awful  in 
a  missionary  to  be  pampering  himself,  and  living  at 
his  ease,  and  neglecting  the  souls  of  men  perish 
ing  around  him — his  fellow  men,  whose  extreme 
wretchedness  was  making  the  most  touching  ap- 
peals to  his  humanity,  to  say  nothing  of  his  Chris- 
tian benevolence  and  imperious  obligations !  But 
does  it  argue  no  guilt  to  live  at  ease  in  Great 
22 


262  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Britain,  and  not  concern  oneself  about  who  is  per- 
ishing-, who  is  calling  for  help,  who  is  tossed  with 
the  tempest  of  an  alarmed  conscience  and  not  com- 
forted ?  It  were  an  instance  of  depravity  almost 
as  great  as  could  be  found  in  the  heathen  world 
itself,  if  a  man  sent  on  purpose  to  distribute  the 
bread  of  life  to  the  perishing,  should  go  to  them, 
but  neglect  to  fulfil  his  commission ! — Keep  his 
stores  locked  up,  and  suffer  them  to  perish  for 
want  before  his  eyes  !  But  is  there  no  depravity 
in  the  case  of  those  who  know  that  there  are  mil- 
lions upon  millions  thus  perishing,  and  scarcely 
move  a  finger  to  help  them  ? — Who  never  once 
denied  themselves  one  sensual  indulgence — never 
made  one  sacrifice — never  put  forth  one  hearty 
self-denied  exertion  to  communicate  of  their  abun- 
dance ? 

When  men  unite  in  a  commercial  enterprize, 
or  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting  discoveries  in 
natural  history,  or  any  other  favorite  branch  of 
human  knowledge,  there  is  seldom  room  to  com- 
plain of  want  of  devotement  to  the  object.  The 
common  interest  all  the  parties  feel  in  it,  is  a 
sufficient  guarantee  for  each  member  of  the  society 
acting  his  part.  They  imbibe  the  same  sentiments 
and  feelings — they  breathe  one  spirit,  and  their 
success  in  general  corresponds  to  their  willing,  un- 
wearied exertions.  This  is  as  it  should  be — we 
neither  decry  such  pursuits,  nor  envy  the  reward 
of  such  exertions ;  but  we  may  learn  a  lesson  from 
the  spirit  of  devotedness  to  their  object  which  the 
men  of  this  world,  we  may  say,  uniformly  display. 

But  O  how  little  (I  had  almost  said  how  child- 
ish) are  the  most  dignified  and  praiseworthy  exer- 
tions of  human  intellect  and  human  passions  for  the 
attainment  of  some  earthly  transitory  good,  when 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  263 

brought  into  comparison  with  the  godlike,  bene- 
ficent design  of  changing  the  face  of  the  moral 
world,  by  the  extirpation  of  ignorance  and  idol- 
atry, root  and  branch,  and  filling  the  earth  with 
the  knowledge  of  the  Lord !  If  the  generous 
philanthropy  of  this  design  should  fire  every  breast 
with  zeal  in  the  prosecution  of  it,  the  unspeakable 
misery  of  the  objects  of  our  compassion,  the  danger 
of  failure  from  mistake  or  inactivity,  or  from 
engaging  in  it  in  an  improper  spirit,  should  give 
double  emphasis  to  the  obligation  we  are  under  to 
seek  grace  from  God  to  be  faithful  and  diligent  in 
obeying  his  own  command. 

If  these  things  be  so,  what  manner  of  persons 
ought  we  to  be  in  serious  devotedness  to  this 
cause!  When  a  plague  is  raging  in  a  country, 
there  is  little  thought  of  diversion  ;  there  is  no 
heart  for  merriment;  and  in  devising  and  employ- 
ing means  that  the  plague  be  stayed,  there  is  deep 
solemnity  in  every  countenance.  The  image  of 
death  every  where  presents  itself.  Hearts  are 
lifted  up  in  secret  to  the  almighty  Disposer  of 
life  and  death.  There  are  earnest  cries  for  the 
display  of  his  mercy,  for  direction  as  to  the  use  of 
means,  and  strength  and  courage  to  fulfil  the  mel- 
ancholy but  necessary  duty  of  those  who  go 
between  the  living  and  the  dead.  Such  a  calamity 
as  the  plague,  makes  people  forget  their  little 
differences  and  private  interests.  And  they  who 
are  mercifully  delivered  from  it  will  feel  it  to  be 
the  most  proper  expression  of  their  gratitude  to  God, 
to  do  all  they  can,  and  that  immediately,  to  help 
the  unhappy  persons  who  are  still  exposed  to  the 
pestilence.  An  hour's  delay  would  be  felt  to  be 
criminal— the  total  neglect  of  the  sufferers,  while 
a  remedy  was  at  hand,  the  most  preposterous  and 
inhuman  cruelty. 


264  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Such,  I  conceive,  is  somewhat  like  the  spirit  of 
solemnity,  diligence,  dependence  upon  God,  gra- 
titude for  his  mercy,  and  humility  before  him, 
which  should  characterize  all  who  are  concerned 
in  the  great  work  to  which  these  Letters  refer. 
While  it  is  not  shaded  with  the  gloom  and  des- 
pondency that  hang  over  the  scene  of  a  pestilence, 
concerning  which  we  have  no  intimation  whether 
it  may  be  stayed,  or  whether  all  means  will  be 
alike  ineffectual,  Ave  have  but  the  greater  reason  to 
labor  in  hope.  We  have  the  gracious  assurance 
that  "  our  labor  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord," 
if  we  set  ourselves  in  good  earnest  to  the  work  of 
saving  souls.  Right  impressions  of  the  duty  will 
lead  to  deep  seriousness  in  the  performance  of  it. 
A  work,  to  which  the  proper  introduction  is 
"  fasting  and  prayer,"  ought  to  be  prosecuted  in  a 
corresponding  spirit  of  self-denial  and  devotion. 

The  consideration  of  the  partial  success  of  mis- 
sions in  general,  and  an  intense  feeling  of  the  need 
of  divine  influence,  have  of  late  years  excited  many 
to  the  duty  of  more  frequent,  special,  earnest 
prayer  for  the  Spirit  of  light  and  life  to  be  poured 
out  on  all  flesh.  The  church,  "  the  garden  walled 
around,"  needs  these  influences — and  they  are 
needed  on  the  barren  wastes  of  heathenism.  That 
many  have  thus  been  stirred  up  to  pray,  is  a  good 
sign,  so  for  as  it  goes.  But  I  have  always  thought 
that,  unaccompanied  with  other  signs  of  improve- 
ment, there  is  room  to  question  how  far  such  im- 
pressions of  the  need  of  divine  aid  practically 
affect  those  who  profess  to  be  under  them.  With 
regard  to  such  a  blessing,  if  we  really  ask  it,  we 
have  it ;  and  if  we  have  it,  we  have  also  its  neces- 
sary concomitants.  What  I  mean  is,  that  if  there 
be  so  deep  and  universal  a  feeling  of  the  import- 
ance of  obtaining  a  more  abundant  measure  of  that 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  265 

Spirit  of  God,  the  residue  of  which  is  with  him, 
the  blessing  is  already  in  a  good  degree  obtained. 
But  as  these  influences  are  not  to  supersede,  but  to 
animate,  our  labors,  the  enjoyment  of  them  implies 
more  zealous  exertion — more  unreserved  conse- 
cration— more  simplicity  of  aim — more  heavenliness 
of  temper  in  all  we  say  and  do.  Hence,  to  prove 
that  this  spirit  of  supplication,  which  has  been  in 
some  degree  manifested,  has  come  from  God,  and 
is  not  mere  animal  excitement,  produced  by  the  call 
addressed  to  us  to  engage  in  it,  seconded  by  oar  own 
conviction  of  the  propriety  of  the  exercise,  there 
must  be  a  corresponding  spirit  of  zeal  and  activity 
in  working.  If  we  pray,  and  only  pray,  idly 
expecting  an  answer,  and  attempting  nothing  till 
we  think  we  have  received  it,  there  is  something 
wrong.  The  prayer  that  is  sincere  is  followed  by 
the  immediate  effort  of  faith  to  realize  the  blessing 
prayed  for.  If  prayer  be  not  so  followed  up,  the 
meaning  of  it  "being  interpreted,"  &  is  just  that 
God,  by  exerting  his  own  divine  power,  in  converting 
the  heathen  nations,  would  spare  us  the  trouble  of 
making  any  farther  exertion — or  at  least  so  remove 
difficulties  and  dangers,  that  the  performance  of 
the  duty  would  be  to  us  all  that  was  gratifying  and 
soothing ;  and  be  in  all  respects  more  the  joy  of 
harvest,  than  the  weeping  labor  of  them  that  till 
and  sow. 

I  do  not  by  any  means  say,  that  the  influences  of 
the  Spirit  can  be  dispensed  with,  or  that  prayer  for 
them  is  out  of  place  in  the  present  state  of  our  pro- 
gress in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  heathen  na- 
tions. This  is  impossible.  Indeed,  I  think  there 
is  no  hope  of  much  good  being  done,  either  at  home 
or  abroad,  till  we  see  more  of  that  heavenly  influ- 
ence  pervading  all  ranks  of  contributors   to   this 


266  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

work,  and  all  laborers  in  every  department  of  it. 
Bat  I  say  that  we  must  not  rest  in  merely  praying 
for  this  blessing-.  Praying  must  be  followed  with 
doing,  and  labor  must  be  sanctified  by  prayer. 
Let  us  "  believe  we  have  the  petitions  we  desire 
of  him,"  and  act  accordingly.  Till  we  do  so  we 
ask  amiss,  if  not  as  to  the  subject  of  our  prayers,  at 
least  as  to  the  spirit  of  them. 

I  am  well  aware  that  not  a  few  contribute  to  the 
missionary  cause,  just  as  they  do  to  any  other 
benevolent  institution,  without  thinking  much  about 
it.  When  we  have  gotten  such  people's  money, 
we  have  gotten  all  we  have  to  expect  from  them. 
The  cause  is  not  helped  by  their  prayers,  for  they 
are  not  given  to  prayer.  It  is  not  helped  by  their 
example,  for  their  conduct  is  not  exemplary.  It  is 
not  helped  by  their  persuasive  arguments  in  its 
favor,  in  their  respective  circles,  for  they  are  un-' 
able  to  reason  in  its  defence.  They  neither  under- 
stand its  claims,  nor  appreciate  its  importance. 

O  when  the  spirit  of  power  and  love,  and  of  a 
sound  mind,  shall  descend  upon  these,  and  upon  all 
the  professed  friends  of  the  missionary  and  Bible 
cause,  there  will  be  a  change  indeed !  For  this  let 
us  pray,  and  in  the  mean  time  be  doing  what  we 
can  with  the  limited  means  we  enjoy. 

True  Christians  have  a  most  exalted  idea  of  the 
glory  of  their  unseen  Saviour.  But  as  his  glory, 
while  he  was  upon  earth,  was  obscured  by  the  veil 
of  humanity  he  chose  to  wear,  so  his  glory  is  still 
in  a  great  degree  holden  from  the  world,  because 
the  number  of  his  professed  followers  is  compar- 
atively small,  and  the  light  of  many  of  them  is  hid 
under  a  bushel.  They  form,  but  a  small  portion  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  world,  and  multitudes  of  the 
number  of  those  that  call  him  Lord,  bring  no  glory 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  267 

to  his  name  ;  for  their  character  disgraces  the  reli- 
gion they  profess.  We  believe  indeed  that  the 
heathen  are  given  to  our  Saviour  "  for  his  inher- 
itance, and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his 
possession  ;"  but  we  see  not  yet  "  all  things  put 
under  him."  I  sometimes  endeavor  to  realize  the 
feelings  of  a  Christian  of  a  future  and  happier  age  of 
the  church,  when  the  far  greater  part  of  the  world 
shall  have  been  subdued  to  Christ,  and  be  full  of 
"  people  made  willing  in  the  day  of  His  power." 
How  will  the  heart  of  every  Christian  of  that 
happier  age  expand,  when  he  looks  around  to  the 
east  and  west,  and  south  and  north,  and  contem- 
plates the  crowding  millions  of  every  clime  and  of 
every  language,  ranked  among  the  humble  and 
joyful  followers  of  Jesus ! — their  idols  thrown 
away — their  cruel  rites  abolished — their  wars  all 
over — their  cup  of  prosperity  as  fall  as  it  can  be  on 
earth,  and  Christ  the  theme  of  every  tongue, 
and  the  supreme  object  of  love  and  devotion  of 
every  heart. 

G.reat  is  the  joy  of  loyal  and  affectionate  sub- 
jects, when  the  king  they  venerate,  and  who  has 
been  long  deprived  of  his  crown  and  the  enjoyment 
of  his  just  rights  as  the  sovereign  of  an  extensive 
empire — a  king  who  has  long  been  confined  to  a 
narrow  spot  as  to  actual  dominion,  and  has  had  but 
few  devoted  to  his  cause  and  sharers  of  his  fortunes, 
and  supporters  of  his  honors  and  majesty, — I  say 
great  is  the  joy  of  such  a  people,  when  their  king 
is  restored  to  the  full  possession  of  his  kingdom — 
when  the  hearts  of  all  are  opened  to  revere  him, 
and  bowed  in  dutiful  submission  before  him.  So  it 
will  be  with  the  faithful  followers  of  Christ,  in  that 
day  when  he  shall  be  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  all 
nations.     For  although  his  true  friends  know  that 


268  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

he  has  a  right  to  universal  empire,  yet  there  is  still 
a  difference  between  merely  having1  a  right,  and 
being-  actually  put  in  possession  of  it.  It  is  one 
thing  to  contemplate  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  as 
Christ's  in  reversion,  and  another  thing  to  see  them 
rejoicing  in  the  blessings  of  his  reign.  Let  us 
cheerfully  give  our  life  and  labors  to  accelerate  this 
blessed  era. 

I  am,  &c. 


LETTER    XXI. 


SOME     OF     THE     CAUSES     OF    INDIFFERENCE    TO 
MISSIONARY     EXERTIONS. 

My  dear  Friend, 

What  is  the  reason  why  so  many  professing 
Christians  render  so  little  efficient  aid  to  the  cause 
of  the  blessed  Saviour  in  the  heathen  world  ?  This 
is  a  question  that  forces  itself  upon  us  when  we 
think  on  the  one  hand  how  much  aid  that  cause 
requires,  and  on  the  other  how  practically  indif- 
ferent many  are  whom  in  charity  we  are  bound  to 
consider  as  sincere  Christians.  This  indifference 
is  to  be  traced  to  a  variety  of  causes,  and  it  may 
not  be  unuseful  briefly  to  glance  at  some  of  them. 

(1.)  The  burden  of  supporting  the  ordinances 
of  religion  among  themselves  presses  heavily  upon 
some  bodies  of  Christians.  It  seems  to  require 
their  utmost  exertions  to  provide  for  their  own  ; 
and  so  many,  because  they  feel  that  they  can  do 
very  little,  absolutely  do  nothing  in  the  way  of 
contributing  to  the  spread  of  the  Gospel. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  269 

(2.)  The  pressure  of  the  times  also  is  severely 
felt  by  many.  But  when  will  this  cease  ?  Shall 
the  heathen  be  alloAved  to  live  and  die  without 
Christ  till  the  "  hard  times"  are  over  ?  It  is  ad- 
mitted that  in  the  course  of  providence  the  circum- 
stances of  individuals  may  be  so  reversed,  that 
however  willing  and  even  zealous  to  help  the 
"  good  cause,"  they  cannot,  consistently  with  the 
claims  of  justice,  contribute  even  the  smallest  sum. 
Such  are,  of  course,  absolved  from  the  guilt  of 
withholding  assistance  ;  but  so  long  as  men  have 
what  they  can  call  their  own,  of  that  they  are  un- 
questionably bound  to  impart  a  share  to  those  who 
are  poorer  than  themselves.  Let  them  imitate  the 
churches  of  Macedonia,  of  whom  it  is  recorded 
that  in  a  great  trial  of  affliction  the  abundance  of 
their  joy  and  their  deep  poverty  abounded  unto  the 
riches  of  their  liberality ;  for  to  their  power,  yea, 
and  beyond  their  power,  they  were  willing  of 
themselves.  They  would  say,  "  We  are  very  poor 
and  the  times  very  hard,  we  can  ill  spare  any  thing 
from  our  small  stock ;  but  our  bowels  yearn  over 
the  poor  heathen  around  us — with  them  it  is  hard 
times  indeed !  They  are  destitute  of  the  Gospel, 
while  we  are  rich  in  faith  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  ; 
let  us  live  upon  the  coarsest  fare,  and  strip  our- 
selves of  every  superfluity,  rather  than  leave  them 
to  perish." 

(3.)  The  calls  for  help  at  our  own  doors — the 
support  of  preachers  in  remote  and  destitute  parts 
of  our  own  country — seem  to  possess  a  prior  claim 
upon  our  liberality.  Heathens  at  home  have  as 
much  need  of  the  Gospel  as  heathens  abroad.  This 
is  a  perfect  truism,  and  so  is  the  converse  of  it ; 
heathens  abroad  have  as  much  need  of  the  Gospel 
as  heathens  at  home.     And  what  is  the  inference  ? 


270  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

Neglect  one  of  them  ?  Surely  not.  Aid  both  ac- 
cording to  your  ability.  But  the  very  circumstance, 
that  the  heathen  at  home  are  so  much  within  sight 
and  within  hearing,  give  them  so  greatly  the  ad- 
vantage over  heathens  abroad  in  competing  for  a 
share  of  Christian  beneficence,  that  a  man  of  con- 
sideration, adverting  to  this  circumstance,  may  I 
think  very  safely  give  the  latter  the  first  place  in 
his  regards  ;  persuaded  that  the  heathen  at  home 
will  attract  the  regard  of  many  who  will  never 
think  of  the  heathen  abroad,  or  only  think  of  them 
as  having  a  secondary  and  distant  claim  to  atten- 
tion. According  to  the  views  of  some,  the  worship- 
pers of  the  gods  of  Hindoostan,  China,  Africa,  &c. 
should  be  left  to  their  idols  till  there  are  no  remains 
of  ignorance  and  idolatry  among  ourselves.  When 
any  one  argues  in  this  way  it  might  not  be  improper 
to  advise  him  to  adhere  strictly  to  his  own  prin- 
ciple, and  abstain  from  teaching  the  ignorant,  even 
of  his  own  countrymen,  till  he  has  nothing  more  to 
learn  himself;  to  correct  no  errors  till  he  has  left 
no  error  in  his  own  heart  uncorrected;  not  to 
concern  himself  with  the  spiritual  dangers  and 
wants  of  his  brother  till  he  himself  is  beyond  the 
reach  of  danger,  and  has  no  wants  unsupplied — 
for  "  Charity  begins  at  home  !" 

Such  sentiments  are  sometimes  harbored  in  a 
latent  form,  where  nothing  of  the  kind  is  openly 
avowed  ;  but  so  far  as  they  operate,  they  cut  the 
sinews  of  exertion  in  the  most  glorious  of  causes — 
the  conversion  of  the  whole  world  to  the  faith  of 
Christ,  that  He  may  reign,  and  all  his  enemies  be 
put  under  his  feet. 

(4.)  Prejudice  against  the  publicity  and  activity 
of  missionary  and  other  societies  has  a  very  un- 
favorable   effect   upon    their    interests     in     some 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  271 

quarters.  There  is  a  class  of  Christians  who  pro- 
fess much  in  a  certain  way,  but  who  speak  and 
think  in  a  slighting  manner  of  the  active  exertions 
of  some  of  their  brethren.  "  We  do  not  approve," 
say  they,  "  of  so  much  bustle  and  stir ;  we  have  no 
taste  for  'public  exhibitions.'  A  good  sermon  is 
better  than  a  missionary  meeting  at  any  time  :  we 
see  some  who  make  a  great  figure  at  your  meetings 
that  would  be  better  employed  attending  to  the 
concerns  of  their  own  families,  or  to  the  exami- 
nation of  their  own  hearts.  It  is  nothing  but 
pride  that  prompts  all  this  display  of  zeal."  Such 
is  their  language,  and  consistently  enough  they 
refrain  from  lending  their  public  support  to  the 
cause  that  calls  forth  such  displays  of  unhallowed 
zeal.  "  I  know  the  pride  and  the  naughtiness  of 
thine  heart,"  said  Eliab  to  his  younger  brother 
David ;  and  whether  such  language  as  that  now 
quoted  be  not  dictated  by  a  similar  spirit  deserves 
consideration. 

But  although  these  humble  retiring  Christians 
disapprove  of  "  public  exhibitions,"  they  might  be 
zealous  in  the  cause  itself  in  their  own  way  ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  many  of  them  aid  it  most 
efficiently,  while  they  are  too  modest  to  let  their 
liberality  be  known.  In  other  cases,  however,  I 
am  afraid  the  objection  to  the  publicity  of  mis- 
sionary proceedings  rests  on  other  grounds ;  they 
would  be  thought  the  friends  of  Christianity  at  less 
expense  than  taking  an  active  share  in  societies  for 
its  promotion  implies. 

The  class  of  disapproves  of  "public  exhibitions" 
contains  not  a  few  individuals  who  discover  much 
of  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity  in  their  private  life. 
They  are  exemplary  in  their  attention  to  relative 
duties—the   religious   instruction   of  children  and 


s 


272  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

domestics — their  love  of  the  pure  Gospel  and  at- 
tachment to  the  ministers  Avho  preach  it.  Their 
disrelish  or  disapprobation  of  the  zealous  attempts 
made  in  the  present  day  to  excite  and  keep  up  a 
spirit  of  active  Christian  benevolence  may  be  owing 
to  their  fear  lest  this  outward  zeal  should  be  made 
a  substitute  for  the  less  obstrusive,  but  not  less 
essential,  virtues  of  the  Christian  character.  It  is 
true  that  efforts  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the 
vineyard  of  others  may  be  made  at  the  expense  of 
the  welfare  of  our  own.  But  this  is  not  necessarily 
implied  ;  and  instead  of  retiring  from  the  scene 
of  exertion  from  an  apprehension  of  danger  to  our- 
selves, and  instead  of  censuring  the  conduct  of 
those  who  incur  the  risk,  would  it  not  be  more 
Christian-like  to  stand  forward  with  our  example 
and  influence  to  encourage  every  sincere  attempt  to 
promote  the  good  of  our  fellow-creatures  ?  and 
at  the  same  time  exhibit  an  example  of  the  power 
of  religion  in  our  own  heart  and  life,  in  con- 
nection  with  such  exertions.  Surely  this  would  be 
manifesting  more  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  than  to 
stand  aloof  from  the  contest  of  benevolence,  and 
find  fault  with  them  that  engage  in  it. 

A  keen  observer  could  see  pride  lurking  in  the 
folds  of  the  tattered  garments  of  the  old  cynic,  who 
professed  to  despise  all  the  pomp  and  vanity  and 
"  pride"  of  the  world.  We  judge  not  individuals, 
but  reasoning  from  the  nature  of  things,  perhaps  it 
is  not  too  much  to  affirm,  that  there  is  room  to 
suspect  that  the  fair  show  of  humility  that  hides 
itself  from  the  scenes  of  public  and  active  exertion 
in  the  cause  of  missions  and  other  similar  "  walks 
of  usefulness,"  may  serve  to  conceal  that  which  is 
the  opposite  of  true  humility.  If  some  who  stand 
openly  forward  in  such  causes  seek  the  praise  of 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  273 

men  for  their  zeal,  may  not  the  others  be  seeking 
the  praise  of  men  for  their  retiring  modesty  and 
humility  ?  "  Let  us  not  therefore  judge  one  another 
any  more,  but  judge  this  rather,  that  no  man  put 
a  stumbling-block  or  an  occasion  to  fall  in  his 
brother's  way." 

But  whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  respective 
character  and  motives  of  persons  belonging  to  the 
class  referred  to,  their  conduct  and  spirit  have  a 
very  unfavorable  effect  upon  the  prosperity  of  the 
cause  of  missions.  Their  conduct  in  withholding, 
at  least  publicly,  their  countenance  and  aid,  is  an 
example  to  others  still  less  friendly,  who,  under  that 
example,  shelter  their  neglect  and  contempt  of 
such  societies  and  their  supporters.  Their  spirit  is 
equally  prejudicial  to  the  cause,  for  as  they  (at 
least  some  of  them)  are  thought  to  reside  in  an 
elevated  calm,  the  unruffled  atmosphere  of  pure 
Christianity,  and  see  the  busy  bustling  crowd  far 
beneath  them,  they  who  are  thus  active  are  re- 
presented as  occupying  but  a  lower  place  in  the 
scale  of  Christian  attainment — much  engaged  about 
outward  things,  but  negligent  of  the  higher  and 
heavenly  exercises  of  Christianity. 

It  is  far  easier  to  decry  good  things,  because  there 
is  a  mixture  of  imperfection  iirf  them,  than  to 
exhibit  an  example  of  doing  good,  purged  of  every 
improper  alloy,  and  chargeable  with  no  weakness. 
And  it  may  be  added  that  it  is  easier  to  stand  still, 
doing  nothing  but  condemning  them  that  are  at- 
tempting to  do  something,  than  to  do  that  some- 
thing, and  shows  less  of  a  Christian  spirit  than 
some  would  he  thought  to  possess.  If  they  cannot 
approve  of  the  plans  of  their  brethren,  let  them  at 
least  show  them  a  more  excellent  way.  If  they 
can  accomplish  the  conversion  of  the  world  without 
23 


274  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

making  any  noise  or  stir  about  it,  let  them  show 
how  this  can  be  done  ;  but  if  they  would  leave  it 
undone  rather  than  make  any  ado  about  it,  Ave  are 
of  a  different  opinion ;  nor  will  we  alter  it  although 
they  should  place  us  on  one  of  the  lowest  forms  in 
the  school  of  Christianity  for  our  activity. 

There  have  been  men  who  thought  the  summit 
of  Christian  perfection  consisted  in  a  total  seclusion 
from  the  world  and  all  its  concerns  ;  and  in  that 
seclusion  pretended  to  devote  their  days  and  nights 
to  acts  of  devotion.  They  were  disposed  to  rank 
very  low  the  religionists  who  lived  in  the  midst  of 
a  wicked  world,  and  by  their  example  and  labors 
tried  to  reform  it.  It  was,  however,  somewhat 
unaccountable  that  the  sublime  pitch  of  devotion 
to  which  those  men  attained  was  found  in  hearts 
that  never  sighed  for  the  moral  miseries  of  the 
world  they  had  forsaken,  and  that  their  hands 
never  opened  to  an  act  of  beneficence  except  the 
periodical  and  ostentatious  charity  which  cost  them 
nothing  but  a  trifling  deduction  from  the  munificent 
charity  of  others,  which  enabled  them  to  live  in 
luxurious  indolence  in  their  monasteries.  That 
this  is  true  of  one  and  all  of  them  I  by  no  means 
say  ;  but  in  saying  that  this  is  a  correct  view  of  the 
great  body  of  the  monks  of  former  days,  I  think  I 
shall  be  borne  out  by  the  voice  of  impartial  history. 
And  it  is  somewhat  curious  to  mark  the  similarity 
of  principle  between  those  recluses  and  certain  high 
professors  of  the  present  day,  who  perhaps  never 
suspected  that  they  bore  any  family  likeness  to  the 
monastic  orders. 

But  a  theoretical  mistake  into  which  they  have 
both  fallen  has  led  to  a  practical  error  with  which 
they  are  both  chargeable.  They  have  thought  that 
to  be  dead  to  the  world,  and  live  a  life  of  com- 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  275 

munion  with  God,  it  is  necessary  to  go  out  of  the 
world,  avoid  all  contact  with  the  men  of  it,  and, 
in  a  word,  attend  exclusively  to  their  own  sal- 
vation. "I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them 
out  of  the  world,  but  that  thou  shouldest  keep 
them  from  the  evil,"  was  the  prayer  of  Him  whose 
will  was  that  his  disciples  should  live  in  the  world 
and  seek  its  good,  although,  like  himself,  they  should 
incur  its  hatred,  by  testifying  that  the  deeds  of  it 
are  evil. 

In  the  days  of  Martin  Luther,  some  perhaps 
charged  that  eminent  reformer  with  a  taste  for 
bustle  and  noise  and  disturbance,  and  accounted 
for  all  the  stir  he  made  upon  the  principle,  that  he 
was  weary  of  his  cell  and  wanted  to  appear  some- 
body ;  and  this  to  many  would  appear  a  very 
plausible  account  of  the  matter.  But  doubtless  the 
great  Judge  himself  at  the  last  day  will  reverse 
that  uncharitable  sentence,  and  acquit  his  active 
servant  of  the  base  motives  imputed  to  him  ;  and 
Christian  charity  whispers  us  to  beware  lest  we  also 
censure  and  condemn  upon  equally  false  grounds 
the  servants  of  Christ  who  are  zealous  in  his  cause 
in  the  present  day. 

Were  we  furnished  with  such  a  history  of  the 
primitive  churches  as  would  give  us  as  intimate  a 
knowledge  of  the  character  and  opinions  of  their 
members  as  we  have  of  some  existing  religious 
communities,  we  should  better  perceive  the  force  of 
such  injunctions  as  these  :  "  Let  all  your  things  be 
done  with  charity  :  let  not  your  good  be  evil  spoken 
of:  it  is  good  to  be  zealously  affected  always  in 
a  good  thing  :  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works  : 
be  not  wise  in  your  own  conceits  ;"  and  many  more 
that  might  be  quoted.  These  dictates  of  inspired 
wisdom  had   a  special  reference   to  the   state  of 


276  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

thing's  in  the  churches  at  Rome,  Corinth,  and  other 
places  ;  but  they  are  applicable  also  to  the  state  of 
manners  and  opinions,  the  spirit  and  conduct  of 
professing  bodies  at  the  present  hour.  These  pre- 
cepts never  become  obsolete  ;  nor  will  the  neglect 
of  them  be  attended  with  less  serious  consequences 
now  than  at  a  former  period.  Perhaps  there  were 
persons  in  those  early  days,  as  there  are  doubtless 
some  of  the  present  race  of  Christians,  who  were 
persuaded  that  fervent  public  zeal  and  humble 
consistent  piety  can  never  be  found  united ;  and  it 
may  be  admitted  that  the  conduct  of  some  might 
have  given  countenance  to  the  opinion.  Accord- 
ing to  the  natural  process  by  which  prejudice  is 
generated,  the  imprudent  behavior  or  unchristian 
spirit  of  a  few  zealots  gave  rise  to  a  sweeping  con- 
demnation of  all  zeal  and  all  public  show  of  re- 
ligion. The  conduct  of  inconsistent  zealots  cer- 
tainly showed  that  a  high  profession  is  not  always 
the  product  of  a  holy  spiritual  mind  ;  and  this  is 
all  the  length  the  inference  ought  to  have  been 
carried.  But,  instead  of  assuming  merely  that  great 
zeal  is  not  an  infallible  criterion  of  great  piety,  it 
may  have  been  put  down  as  an  undoubted  axiom 
that  they  are  rarely,  if  ever,  united  in  the  same 
person. 

It  is  difficult  to  make  a  classification  of  the  pro- 
fessing world  sufficiently  comprehensive  to  embrace 
the  whole,  and  sufficiently  distinct  to  mark  the 
shades  of  difference  between  each  class  ;  but  without 
aiming  at  this,  which  indeed  is  not  necessary  for 
our  present  purpose,  I  would  direct  your  attention 
to  two  or  three  manifest  gradations  in  the  scale  of 
character.  The  mere  frequenter  of  the  church  and 
mere  observer  of  the  common  decencies  of  life 
censures  what  he  terms  the  pharasaical  stiffness 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  077 

and  morose  piety  of  his  neighbor,  who  rises  a  little 
above  his  standard  by  being  a  strict  observer  of  the 
Sabbath — regular  in  the  performance  of  the  duties 
of  family  worship  and  private  devotion.  And  this 
one  finds  fault  with  his  neighbor,  who,  in  addition 
to  these  duties,  manifests  a  concern  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  those  about  him  ;  or,  if  his  zeal  prompt 
him  to  take  a  wider  range,  and  his  talents  fit  him  for 
more  extensive  usefulness,  he  is  zealous  for  the  diffu- 
sion of  religion  at  home  and  abroad,  willingly  giving 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  these  matters, 
suspicions  are  immediately  hinted  that  there  may 
perhaps  be  too  much  outward  religion  about  him, 
and  too  little  inward  ;  but  this  "  perhaps  "  is  merely 
introduced,  at  least  in  some  instances,  to  cover  the 
uncharitableness  of  the  heart  that  utters  this  grave 
concern — for  the  meaning  is,  that  they  fear  it  is 
even  so,  and  justify  their  own  inattention  to  the 
good  of  others,  by  throwing  out  injurious  hints 
against  those  who  do  more  than  themselves. 

In  making  these  remarks  I  am  not  writing  at 
random,  nor  descanting  upon  imaginary  charac- 
ters. The  insinuations  I  have  ventured  to  expose 
I  have  repeatedly  heard  thrown  out  in  conversa- 
tion, and  they  have  also  been  expressed  in  letters 
addressed  to  myself.  If  you  ask  where  such 
persons  are  to  be  found,  go  to  some  of  our  great 
towns — advertise  a  missionary  or  Bible  meeting — 
and  when  the  crowded  assembly  are  listening  to 
the  proceedings  of  the  day,  slip  away  and  call  upon 
professors,  whom  you  will  find  in  their  shops  or 
houses,  and  who  perhaps  never  attended  such  a  meet- 
ing in  their  life.  These  are  the  persons,  and  per- 
haps they  are  more  numerous  than  you  suspected  ; 
they  move  in  another  circle,  and  seldom  come  in 
23* 


278  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

contact  with  the  active  members  and  agents  of  your 
societies. 

I  have  been  very  diffuse  on  this  subject ;  but  I 
cannot  refrain  from  adding  yet  a  few  more  remarks. 
There  may  be  such  a  thing  as  spiritual  selfish- 
ness— a  disposition  to  indulge  ourselves,  if  I  may 
so  express  it,  in  the  luxuries  of  devotional  reading, 
the  delights  of  select  Christian  society — the  enjoy- 
ment of  every  exercise  congenial  to  the  spiritual 
mind — wrapt  up  in  the  contemplation  of  our  own 
happiness,  and  shutting  ourselves  up  from  the  un- 
welcome intrusion  of  the  cares  and  distractions  of 
time.  And  if  we  had  nothing  to  do  upon  earth 
but  sit  still  and  indulge  our  own  meditations,  they 
could  never,  if  of  the  right  kind,  he  carried  to 
excess,  or  interfere  with  important  duty.  But  if 
a  Christian  thinks  only  of  his  own  things,  and  leaves 
the  world  to  perish^  he  is  surely  not  fulfilling  all 
the  will  of  his  Lord.  He  cannot  be  a  Christian 
who  has  no  taste  for  the  enjoyments  of  secret 
devotion  ;  and  he  cannot  be  a  growing,  prosperous, 
heavenly-minded  Christian,  who  does  not  habitually 
cultivate  the  spirit  which  they  tend  so  directly  to 
cherish.  But  our  great  Exemplar  himself,  who  is 
our  perfect  pattern  in  this  as  in  all  things  else, 
while  he  gave  his  nights  to  prayer,  gave  his  days 
to  "  going  about  continually  doing  good."  We 
must,  therefore,  if  we  would  be  perfect,  proportion 
the  time  spent  in  seeking  our  oAvn  spiritual  im- 
provement and  gratification,  so  as  not  to  infringe, 
even  for  those  enjoyments,  upon  the  active  duties 
we  owe  to  the  world  in  which  we  live. 

It  may  be  thought  there  is  little  occasion  for 
such  a  caution  to  Christians  of  the  present  day,  who 
are  generally  suspected  of  being  more  deficient  in 
the  duties  of  the  closet  than  of  the  market  and  the 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  279 

church.  But  it  may  not  be  quite  out  of  time,  or 
out  of  place  just  to  hint  that  the  deceitfulness  of 
the  heart  may  be  sometimes  detected  in  feeding 
ourselves  with  Christian  dainties,  forgetful,  as  to 
all  practical  purposes,  of  our  poor  neighbors,  who 
are  perishing  of  hunger.  If  any  one  ask,  "  And 
who  is  my  neighbor  ?"  he  may  be  referred  to  the 
parable  spoken  upon  the  occasion  of  the  same 
question  being  proposed,  and  intended  to  illustrate 
the  commandments,  "  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord 
thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  &c.  and  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself." 

Whether  in  pretence  or  in  truth  attention  to 
our  own  spiritual  concerns  is  pleaded  as  a  rea- 
son for  declining  to  take  our  share  of  labor 
and  expense  along  with  the  zealous  promoters  of 
the  cause  of  Christ,  it  is  a  plea  which  I  am  per- 
suaded will  not  stand  the  test  of  an  enlightened 
investigation.  It  sounds  well  to  say,  "  All  my 
time  and  pains  are  little  enough  for  keeping  things 
right  at  home  ;  I  leave  it  to  those  that  are  stronger 
and  wiser  than  I  to  lay  themselves  out  for  public 
usefulness."  This  may  be  the  language  of  humble 
sincerity — but  it  may  be  something  the  very  reverse  ; 
and  we  need  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  it 
is  so  when  the  speech  is  closed  as  follows — and  we 
have  heard  it  so  closed  once  and  again :  "  And  it 
might  be  well  if  some  of  your  public  advocates 
would  learn  before  they  teach,  and  practise  before 
they  profess.  There  may  be  more  outward  show 
and  less  private  devotion  among  some  of  them 
than  among  those  who  keep  themselves  quiet,  and 
make  little  ado." 

They  who  have  taken  up  their  cross  and  bear  it 
through  a  gainsaying  and  scoffing  world,  are  con- 
soled with  the  promise  of  support  and  comfort  in 


2S0  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

all  their  trials.  But  perhaps  it  is  a  species  of  trial 
which  some  of  them  were  not  prepared  to  expect, 
that  for  their  very  activity  and  zeal  in  attempts  to 
do  good,  they  should  not  only  have  to  bear  the 
brunt  of  the  world's  enmity,  but  become  the  ob- 
jects of  the  supercilious  frown  and  illiberal  insinu- 
ations of  some  of  their  own  brethren,  from  whom 
they  might  rather  have  expected  every  countenance 
and  encouragement ;  and  if  needful,  friendly  coun- 
sel and  warning  as  to  the  best  way  of  doing  their 
Master's  will,  and  overcoming  the  temptations  to 
which  their  services  exposed  them. 

I  hope  I  shall  not  be  understood  as  justifying  the 
neglect  of  any  private  duty  for  the  sake  of  public 
usefulness.  But  as  it  is  insinuated  that  zeal  for  the 
cause  of  Christ  outwardly  may  be  loudly  professed, 
where  there  is  a  great  negligence  in  the  perform- 
ance of  other  Christian  duties, — I  would  say,  if  the 
charge  be  well  founded  in  the  case  of  any  one 
individual,  let  him  see  that  henceforth  he  gives  no 
occasion  to  any  to  speak  reproachfully  of  the  best 
of  causes,  and  the  most  benevolent  exertions,  by 
any  inconsistency  between  his  public  profession, 
and  private  deportment ;  and  so  cut  off  occasion 
from  them  that  desire  occasion,  as  well  as  remove 
a  stumbling  block  out  of  the  way  of  sincere  friends 
to  the  cause  of  God  and  truth.  And  to  meet  the 
objections  of  those  who  are  averse  to  show,  and 
noise,  and  compliment,  let  all  things  of  this  kind, 
beyond  what  is  proper,  be  avoided  as  much  as 
possible. 

"  Fas  est  ab  inimicis  doceri." 

These  appear  to  me  to  be  some  of  the  causes  why 
many  professing  Christians  are  indifferent  to  the 
work  of  missions,  and  even  prejudiced  against  it. 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  281 

There  are  some  persons,  however,  whose  indiffer- 
ence may  be  otherwise  accounted  for.  They  have 
no  illiberal  prejudices  against  Missionary  and  Bible 
Societies,  and  similar  institutions,  but  their  atten- 
tion has  never  been  called  to  the  subject  by  their 
pastors  and  others,  to  whom  they  look  up  as  their 
proper  guides  and  directors  in  all  such  matters. 
But  I  have  touched  upon  this  in  another  place,  and 
to  add  any  thing  further  here  would  be  super- 
fluous. 


The  general  design  of  these  Letters  has  been  to 
illustrate  and  enforce  the  duty  of  zeal  in  the  mis- 
sionary cause,  and  it  has  been  more  particularly 
my  object  to  press  the  obligation  resting  upon  qual- 
ified individuals  to  come  forward  in  the  way  of 
personal  devotement  as  missionaries.  But  the 
question  might  be  put — "  Suppose  missionary 
candidates  in  great  numbers  were  to  offer  their 
services,  where  could  funds  be  procured  to  carry 
on  the  work  on  so  enlarged  a  scale  ?"  It  is  easy 
to  answer,  "  Just  by  a  corresponding  augmentation 
of  liberality  on  the  part  of  those  whose  offer- 
ings to  the  cause  of  their  Redeemer  must  be 
made,  not  in  personal  services  but  in  pecuniary 
contributions." 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  descant  on  the  ways  and 
means  of  raising  sufficient  funds.*     If  the  represen- 

*  See  an  excellent  sermon  by  the  Rev.  J.  Brown,  deli- 
vered before  the  Missionary  Society  a  few  years  ago. 


282  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

tations  contained  in  these  letters  shall,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  be  made  instrumental  in  exciting-  a 
missionary  spirit  in  the  breasts  of  some  who  ought 
to  devote  themselves  to  the  work  of  the  Lord 
among  the  heathen,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  a 
spirit  for  making  liberal  contributions  will  be  ex- 
cited in  the  breasts  of  others,  sufficient  to  meet  the 
expense  of  equipping  and  maintaining  such  mis- 
sionaries. On  the  other  hand,  if  these  letters  fail 
to  excite  such  a  spirit  in  candidates  for  the  work, 
in  like  manner  there  is  reason  to  suppose  they  will 
fail  also  to  excite  to  augmented  liberality.  That 
is  to  say,  my  view  of  the  matter  is,  that  the  true 
missionary  spirit,  when  it  becomes  general,  will 
produce  its  due  proportion  of  missionaries  and  mis- 
sionary contributors,  so  that  the  one  will  always 
bear  a  due  proportion  to  the  other. 

The  apostolic  days  exemplified  the  true  mission- 
ary spirit.  And  what  did  the  disciples  do  then  ? 
They  that  had  houses  or  lands  sold  them,  and 
brought  the  money,  and  laid  it  at  the  apostles'  feet. 
And  Avhat  then  ?  Were  they  fools  and  enthusiasts 
for  so  doing  ?  Had  they  formed  an  extravagant 
estimate  of  the  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus  ? 
Were  they  carried  away  with  vain  hopes  of  the 
inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light?  Did  they  think 
too  much  of  the  exceeding  great  reward?  Is  the 
example  of  Zaccheus  not  to  be  imitated,  who  gave 
the  half  of  his  goods  to  feed  the  poor  ?  Is  there 
not  one  rich  Christian  in  Great  Britain — are  there 
not  ten — are  there  not  a  hundred — yea,  a  thou- 
sand, who  ought  to  say,  "  The  half  of  my  goods  I 
give  to  the  poor  heathen  ?" 

Much  has  been  said  by  some,  of  churches  upon 
the  scripture  model.  I  wish  there  were  more 
ambition  to  be  followers  of  the  first  churches  in 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  033 

their  unreserved  consecration  of  persons  and  pro- 
perty to  the  cause  of  Christ.  These  would  be 
scriptural  churches  indeed!  Every  thing  in  its 
own  place,  and  in  its  due  order — but  I  say,  avaunt 
boasted  scriptural  order  and  simplicity,  where  this 
spirit  is  wanting-. 

Let  but  the  true  spirit  of  zeal  to  promote  the 
cause  of  Christ  fully  possess  the  hearts  of  the  Chris- 
tian part  of  the  population  of  Great  Britain,  and 
there  will  be  no  want  of  missionaries  and  no  lack 
of  funds  to  support  them.  It  is  not  the  pressure  of 
the  times  that  hinders.  In  the  case  of  individuals, 
it  may  and  does  ;  but  in  the  case  of  multitudes,  the 
hindering  cause  is  the  want  of  the  spirit  of  dedica- 
tion of  all  to  the  service  of  their  Lord  and  Master. 
Compare  the  amount  of  the  contributions  made  to 
the  various  religious  societies  a  few  years  back, 
when  the  country  was  in  a  state  of  commercial 
prosperity,  with  the  years  in  which  it  has  been  suf- 
fering by  stagnation  of  trade,  and  when  many  of  the 
people  were  starving.  Compare,  I  say,  the  con- 
tributions of  these  different  years,  and  the  result 
will  convince  you  that  it  is  not  national  prosperity 
which  will  secure  the  requisite  means,  nor  is  na- 
tional adversity  the  cause  why  so  little  is  done  for 
the  evangelization  of  the  heathen. 

I  am  not  sure  if  I  have  said  anything  in  former 
letters  upon  the  subject  of  missionary  prayer  meet- 
ings— I  shall  sum  up,  in  a  few  words,  what  occurs 
to  me  on  that  theme.  They  should  be  increased 
ten-fold.  If  a  right  spirit  pervade  the  frequenters 
of  them,  I  would  augur  great  things  to  the  cause. 
But  I  think  one  great  purpose  of  such  meetings  is 
by  many  almost  wholly  overlooked.  They  pray 
for   missionaries.      They    pray    for    the    heathen. 


284  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

They  pray  for  the  influences  of  the  Spirit  to  descend 
upon  teachers  and  the  taught.  They  pray  for  success 
to  the  work  at  large — and  so  far  so  well.  But  they 
forget  to  pray  that  they  themselves  may  be  enabled 
to  know  and  do  their  duty  in  helping  the  work. 
A  man  fallen  into  a  pit,  and  another  at  the  pit's 
mouth,  praying  to  God  to  help  him  out,  is  a  fit 
emblem  of  a  prayer  meeting,  where  the  members 
never  think  of  their  having  anything  more  to  do 
in  the  work.  If  the  perishing  man  overheard  such 
a  petitioner  offering  up  his  prayers,  and  then  going 
away  about  his  own  business,  he  would  surely  ques- 
tion his  sincerity.  But  if  he  heard  the  man  praying 
for  courage  to  descend  into  the  pit,  or  for  wisdom 
and  zeal  to  find  out  and  employ  proper  means  for  his 
deliverance,  he  would  conclude  he  was  in  earnest, 
and  believe  that  such  a  prayer  would  undoubtedly 
be  heard  and  answered.  1  should  like,  therefore, 
to  hear  the  members  of  missionary  prayer  meetings 
making  this  a  prominent  part  of  their  supplications, 
that  they,  themselves,  and  others,  also  may  be 
stirred  up  to  devise,  and  act,  and  surfer  what  they 
ought,  that  the  heathen  may  be  brought  out  of  dark- 
ness into  the  marvellous  light  of  the  Gospel. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  some  of  the  reason- 
ings and  opinions  contained  in  these  letters,  I 
apprehend  that  the  general  tenor  of  them  must  be 
approved  by  all  who  really  love  the  truth.  That 
Christians  should  exert  themselves  to  lead  others  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  is  so  indisputable,  that 
the  enforcement  of  the  duty  cannot  be  considered 
wrong ;  but  as  to  the  manner  and  measure  of  per- 
forming the  duty,  men  will  think  differently.  I 
can  conceive  that  many  who  would  not  undertake 
to  disprove  any  of  the  positions  advanced  in  these 


LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS.  2S5 

■sheets,  may  nevertheless  think  that  matters  have 
been  pushed  too  far,  and  a  degree  of  self-devote- 
ment  contended  for,  greater  than  the  general  sense 
of  the  Christian  world  will  warrant.  At  any  rate, 
when  the  subject  comes  to  be  considered  practically 
by  individual  professors  of  Christianity,  each  one 
may  persuade  himself  that  he  finds  some  peculiarity 
in  his  own  case,  which  renders  the  performance  of 
the  duty  less  imperative  upon  him,  and  that  he 
may,  upon  justifiable  grounds,  excuse  himself  from 
doing  so  much,  as,  no  doubt,  some  may  and  ought  to 
do.  It  would  be  a  vain  attempt  to  anticipate  and 
reply  to  all  such  excuses.  But  there  is  one  thing 
that  occurs  to  me,  which  I  will  just  notice  before 
concluding.  It  relates  to  actual  engagement  in  the 
missionary  service.  This  appears  so  awfully  solemn 
an  undertaking,  that  many  shrink  from  the  thought 
of  it.  The  responsibility  involved  in  becoming  a 
missionary  to  the  heathen,  appears  so  fearfully 
great,  that  they  dare  not  venture  to  take  it  upon 
them.  And  they  make  this  overwhelming  sense  of 
its  importance  the  excuse  for  declining  it.  It  is  a 
mistaken  view  of  the  matter,  however,  to  suppose 
that  to  decline  engaging  in  the  service  of  Christ 
among  heathen  nations,  frees  us  from  all  respon- 
sibility on  that  head.  It  must  never  be  forgotten, 
that  we  are  accessory  to  the  guilt  and  condemnation 
of  the  heathen,  if  we  neglect  to  use  the  means  God 
has  appointed  for  their  conversion  and  salvation. 
If,  therefore,  we  tremble  at  the  thought  of  the 
responsibility  of  the  missionary  character,  we  have 
no  less  reason  to  tremble  at  the  thought  of  refusing 
to  sustain  it  when  duty  calls,  and  no  insuperable 
difficulty  forbids.  More  than  one  instance  is  re- 
corded in  Scripture  of  prophets  declining  a  post  of 
honor  and  responsibility,  or  wishing  to  excuse 
24 


286  LETTERS  ON  MISSIONS. 

themselves  from  engaging  in  an  arduous  service, 
but  in  no  instance  do  we  find  that  their  objections 
were  sustained.  The  command  was  repeated  and 
enforced,  with  the  assurance  of  all  needful  grace. 
These  examples  are  recorded  for  our  instruction, 
and  the  application  in  the  present  case  is  obvious. 
The  same  general  principle  extends  to  all  the  other 
departments  of  the  service  of  Christ,  as  well  as  the 
one  now  specified. 

I  repeat,  that  when  Providence  points  out  to  us 
any  particular  service,  it  is  ours  to  undertake  it 
with  all  its  attendant  responsibility,  depending  upon 
the  all-sufficient  grace  of  God.  But  if  we  decline 
the  duty,  thinking  that  thereby  we  escape  the 
responsibility  it  brings  along  with  it,  we  most  egre- 
giously  err.  For  in  that  case  we  are  guilty  of  dis- 
obedience, and  become  accessory  to  all  the  guilt 
and  misery,  which,  but  for  our  criminal  neglect, 
might,  as  far  as  human  agency  is  concerned,  have 
been  removed.  O,  it  is  dreadful  to  think  of  the 
multitudes  that  have  already  gone  to  perdition  be- 
cause no  man  cared  for  their  souls.  Their  blood  is 
to  be  traced  to  the  doors  of  Christian  churches — to 
the  closets  and  the  studies  of  Christian  ministers — 
to  the  shops  and  families  of  Christians  in  secular 
life  !  In  churches  and  closets,  and  shops  and 
families,  the  idol-serving  nations  "  have  been  for- 
gotten," and  alas  are  still  practically  forgotten  to 
an  extent  which  we  dare  not  calculate. 

"Arise,  O  Lord,  and  plead  thine  own  cause." 


(287) 


GO    TE    INTO    ALL     THE     WORLD,    AND    PREACH    THE 

Gospel  to  every    creature.— Mark  xvi.  15. 

[From  a  Sermon  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  Bird,  Missionary  in  Syria.] 

This  is  one  of  those  commands,  which  involve  relative  duties  ; 
duties  which  can  be  fulfilled  only  by  the  co-operation  of  two  or 
more  parties,  and  in  which  case,  a  command  addressed  to  one 
party  is  necessarily  and  equally  binding"  on  the  other.  And  as 
the  command  resting1  on  the  head  of  a  family  to  rule  his  own 
house  well,  imposes  on  his  household  the  relative  obligation  to 
obey,  and  as  the  command  to  some  to  preach  the  Gospel,  in- 
volves the  corresponding  duty  in  others  to  hear  it,  so  also  the 
command  to  some  to  go  to  the  heathen,  involves  in  others  the 
corresponding  obligation  to  send  them;  for  '"'how  shall  they 
preach  except  they  be  sent  V  In  the  great  work  then  of  spread- 
ing the  Gospel,  going,  and  sending,  arid  preaching,  are  duties 
that  are  inseparable,  duties  dependent  on  each  other,  duties 
therefore  which  necessarily  are  all  alike  enjoined  in  this  com- 
mand of  Christ.  The  command  requires  not  only  that  auxiliary 
labor,  wlr.ch  is  directly  necessary,  and  which  is  the  obvious 
result  of  relative  dut}r  among  brethren,  but  it  lays  a  demand  on 
all  auxiliary  labor.  It  claims  not  only  what  must  be  done,  but 
what  can  be  done.  It  is  binding  on  all  persons  who  can  obey 
it  in  any  way,  and  by  any  means  within  their  reach.  It  is 
binding,  and  with  an  equal  force,  on  all  who  can  preach  the 
Gospel,  and  on  all  who  can  cause  it  to  be  preached;  on  all  who 
can  go,  on  all  who  can  send,  and  on  all  who  can  assist  in  send- 
ing. It  is  addressed,  then,  with  equal  emphasis  to  man  and 
woman,  to  minister  and  people,  to  saint  and  sinner,  to  all  who 
have  substance  to  give,  or  influence  to  exert;  or  hearts  to  pray, 
for  the  perishing  heathen. 

Has  any  one  of  you,  then,  my  brethren,  heretofore  thought 
that  you  had  nothing  to  do  with  this  command  of  Christ  ? 
Know  then  that  you  have  everything  to  do  with  it.  If  you  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it,  then  neither  has  any  other  person.  Prove, 
if  you  can,  that  this  command  has  no  binding  application  to  you, 
and  you  may  prove  that  it  has  no  binding  application  at  all. 
Prove  that  this  command  has  no  such  application,  and  you  may 
prove  the  same  of  every  other  command  like  it  3  and  you  ab- 


288 

solve  yourself  and  the  world  tog-ether,  from  all  obligation  what- 
ever in  the  ease.  Then  have  we  no  requirement  left  to  spread 
the  Gospel.  Salvation  in  abundance,  like  floods  of  milk  and 
wine,  has  been  purchased  for  the  heathen,  but  here  it  lies  upon 
our  hands,  with  no  provision  made  to  send  it  to  them.  But  if 
such  provision  has  been  made  ;  if  Jesus  Christ  not  only  left 
a  remedy  for  the  corruptions  of  the  heathen,  but  solemnly  com- 
manded its  application  3  if  this  command  of  his  did  not  die  with 
the  Apostles,  and  cannot  die  while  heathenism  lives ;  if  it  re- 
quires a  work  which  we  can  all  engage  in,  and  therefore  we 
are  among  the  number  to  whom  it  is  addressed ;  then  let  us 
stand  with  open  ears  and  hearts,  and  bid  it  welcome.  Let  it 
fall  as  with  a  voice  of  thunder  upon  the  conscience  that  has 
hitherto  felt  nothing;  and,  come  what  will,  and  cost  what  it 
may,  let  it  be  obeyed.  We  have  here  no  distracting  variety  of 
motives.  The  consideration  which  urges  us  on  to  duty  is  one 
of  the  simplest  kind.  We  have  not  come  to  contemplate  the 
poverty  and  guilt,  the  actual  and  the  threatening  miseries  of  the 
heathen.  We  have  not  come  to  contemplate  the  zeal  of  others, 
nor  the  probabilities  of  great  success  in  the  work  of  missions. 
We  have  come  to  contemplate  simply  a  divine  command  upon 
the  subject.  No  matter,  for  the  present,  whether  the  heathen 
are  rich  or  poor,  happy  or  wretched,  safe  or  ruined.  No 
matter  what  others  will  or  will  not  do  for  their  salvation.  No 
matter  what  the  prospect — whether  the  heathen  desire  or  detest 
our  Gospel,  and  whether  all  our  efforts  for  them  will  be  blessed  or 
lost  :  the  simple  question  is,  Shall  we  acknowledge  the  authority 
of  Christ  ?  Shall  we  obey,  or  shall  we  break,  the  solemn,  plain 
command  of  him  who  said  "  Go  tje  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature"  ? 


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